Minister argues cost of tagging offenders not most cost-effective approach

There were

exchanges in the Seanad in a row over the cost of tagging offenders rather than sending them to prison.

Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly said there had been much discussion about rural crime and the increasing number of robberies in Dublin. The concept of using an electronic tag on an offender was being talked about as if it were a new concept. The economic cost of tagging was €6.45 a day, and in other jurisdictions it had resulted in reduced crime.

However, Minister of State Kathleen Lynch said monitoring a person's compliance with the restriction of movement was "not necessarily the most cost-effective way to challenge and change the offending behaviour of a convicted person".

Mr Daly questioned how this could be the case when prison cost €263 a day but an electronic tag was priced at €6.45.

Ms Lynch said “tagging burglars is not simply a matter of putting tags on them. There must be a monitoring process as well.” Monitoring and supervision added to the cost.

Mr Daly had asked why the Minister for Justice had not implemented provisions allowing for tagging rather than waiting for new legislation for what already existed.

Ms Lynch said tagging was in operation in a small number of cases for prisoners on temporary release. It was only available to the courts as an alternative to prison for a limited number of offences and did not apply to burglary. The courts must first consider community service for offences of 12 months or less.