Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2018
207. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners that were subjected to electronic tagging in 2017; the number of days electronic tagging was used on prisoners; the cost of electronic tagging in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14790/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the items covered in the contract cost of €258,000 for 20 electronic tags for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14791/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in custody that were electronically monitored while on temporary release in 2017; the number of days each person was on release while electronically monitored; the cost per prisoner per day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14793/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 208 and 210 together.
I am to advise the Deputy that Part 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides for the introduction of electronic monitoring.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that following a competitive tender in 2014, a contract was awarded for the supply of electronic monitoring of prisoners.
Electronic monitoring is used to monitor prisoners who have been granted Temporary Release including for the purpose of the Community Return/Community Support Scheme. The system is also used to monitor some hospital in-patients who have been granted temporary release from Prison.
The current contract allows for the provision of up to 50 electronic tags to the Irish Prison Service. During 2017, there were 59 prisoners electronically monitored while on temporary release. The total cost of this service to the Irish Prison Service in 2017 was €166,117. The contract requires a minimum usage of 10 tags. The Irish Prison Service currently have 20 tags available for their use and can avail of up to 50 tags if required. The contract includes the supply of the electronic tagging devices, fitting and removal of the tags on the prisoner with a monitoring and reporting service. The tagging devices also come with a charging device and in some cases where a curfew is required a beacon will also be required to be fitted in the prisoners’ residence.
The average cost per prisoner is impacted upon by the total number of days per year that prisoners are electronically monitored. In 2017 electronic tagging devices were deployed 4,616 times, involving 59 prisoners at an average cost of €36 per deployment.
It has not been possible in the timeframe allowed to collate and provide a breakdown of the precise details in respect of the number of days each prisoner was released on temporary release and the costs associated, as this would entail a manual check of the individual records for each of the 4,616 times the electronic tagging devices were in use. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as this information has been compiled.
It is important to stress that the electronic monitoring arrangements that operate within the Irish Prison system are different to those envisaged in legislation under the Bail Acts (as amended) where significantly different constitutional and operational considerations apply.
