Thousands spent on unused tags for sex offenders

The Government has spent thousands of euro on electronic tags for sex offenders which are going unused due to a legislative delay.

More than €100,000 has been spent on the devices, designed to track the movements of those wearing them, since the start of last year in preparation for the passing of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014 which will see certain high-risk sex offenders tagged upon release from prison.

Of the 60 tags in the State’s possession just 10 are in use, with use of the other 50 on hold until Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald’s Bill becomes law.

Figures released by the Minister in response to a question from Independent TD Denis Naughten show that expenditure on such tags, which stood at €29,000 between March 2013 and July 2014, is likely to pass €100,000 this year.

“The law to allow for the tagging of high-risk sex offenders, after their release from prison, has been in the planning for nearly five years yet is still waiting to see the light of day,” said Mr Naughten.

“So instead of these tags being used to make our streets safer for women and children, they are gathering dust while we wait and wait for the new law.”

A spokesman from the Department of Justice said the legislation will be brought before the Oireachtas "later this year".