Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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485. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of using ankle bracelets (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46820/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Electronic monitoring is mainly used by the Irish Prison Service to monitor prisoners who have been granted temporary release from prison for various reasons such as to attend as hospital in-patients. It thus allows for a reduction in staffing costs for hospital escorts. Following a competitive tender in 2014, Chubb Ireland Ltd. was awarded the contract for the supply of electronic monitoring of prisoners for the Irish Prison Service. So far there have been 49 prisoners in total who were electronically monitored while on temporary release.

Subject to a legislative amendment to be included in the Bail Bill, which is currently being drafted, it is intended to provide for electronic monitoring to be used in selected cases as a condition of bail. The introduction of an electronic monitoring system for bail purposes will require a separate tendering process and involve the Garda Síochána.

Provision for the electronic monitoring of certain sex offenders post their release from custody, which will involve the Probation Service, has been approved by Government. These provisions will be included in the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill which is currently being drafted.