Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together.

The Programme for Government commits to implementing electronic tagging for appropriate categories of offender, such as individuals who:

• have been charged with a serious offence or are appealing a District Court sentence and admitted with certain bail conditions, such as curfew or exclusion zones (Bail Act 1997, as amended).
• who are on Temporary Release or subject to Restriction on Movement Orders (Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended).
• who are convicted sex offenders subject to a post-release supervision order or a sex offender order that includes a condition restricting movement (Sex Offenders Act 2001, as amended)

Existing legislation, including the Bail Act 1997, as amended, the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended, and the Sex Offender Act 2001, as amended, provide for electronic monitoring in certain circumstances.

In order to progress the use of electronic monitoring, a steering group was established in 2024 to oversee the project. The group includes representatives from the Department of Justice and relevant bodies including An Garda Siochána, the Courts Service, the Irish Prison Service, the Probation Service, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I am advised that work is underway involving representatives from the various agencies, to prepare to operationalise electronic monitoring.

This includes consideration of technology, data protection, procurement, implementation, and operating model design.

A Request for Information was published on eTenders on Thursday, 5th June. This is a key early step in engaging with the market and preparing for a future Request for Tender.

The project will determine in what order the various legislative provisions should be commenced, having regard for the practical and operational considerations involved with each potential cohort.

An initial rollout of electronic monitoring is expected later this year following a procurement exercise to select a service provider.