Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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559. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full-year cost of electronic tagging and monitoring thereafter of those convicted of rape, child sexual abuse and similar violent offences that are resident here. [25709/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Electronic tagging is a complex area and there is a significant body of work being undertaken to evaluate the type of technology and resources required in order to implement and sustain a viable electronic monitoring system in Ireland.

Under the Sex Offenders Act 2001, a convicted sex offender can have certain conditions put in place as part of their post-release supervision. The General Scheme of the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill, which was approved by the Government last week, provides for the use of electronic monitoring to ensure that conditions are not breached. The Bill will now been sent to the OPC for drafting and is being referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Upon enactment, effect will be given to those electronic monitoring provisions through a procurement process, and it is not possible at this remove to estimate the costs. I should mention for completeness that options for the procurement of an electronic monitoring service for persons on bail are currently under examination.