Electronic tagging of criminal offenders is set to start by the end of this year on a 12-month pilot basis following earlier delays.
In March, The Irish Times reported that the introduction of electronic monitoring had been held up again after the tender for the supply and management of monitors failed to attract bids from prospective contractors.
However, in a statement on Monday the Department of Justice said the contract had been awarded to Allied Universal Electronic Monitoring (AUEM).
It is understood three tenders were received and, after an evaluation process, AUEM was deemed to be the most cost-effective.
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Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan signed the contract to implement electronic monitoring for specific categories of offenders, the statement said.
Funding of €2.1 million was secured in Budget 2026 for the project to allow for staffing, procurement and other set-up costs.
O’Callaghan said the pilot phase would have the capacity to monitor between 90 and 150 individuals over a 12-month period.
However, it is understood the exact number will depend on a range of factors including personal circumstances, ongoing suitability and compliance with conditions.
He said the pilot programme, which will be rolled out on a phased basis, aims to alleviate pressure on prison capacity while maintaining public safety.
“Since taking office I committed to the introduction of electronic tagging for a certain cohort of offenders and this contract brings this commitment to fruition,” O’Callaghan said.
“Public safety is a priority and considerations such as the profile of offender, nature, type and seriousness of the offence will be evaluated when assessing suitability for electronic monitoring.”
It is understood the 12-month contract started on August 14th, with an option to extend it for a year.
