McEntee confirms that prisoners on release are not being tagged due to cost

Almost €1.1m was spent on the electronic tagging of prisoners since 2014 before the practice was halted last year amid concerns about value for money. File picture: Pascal Rossignol/Reuters

The electronic tagging of criminals while out on temporary release from prison is not being used for financial reasons, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has admitted.

The Department of Justice has confirmed that electronic tagging is not currently being used as an alternative to keeping offenders in prison.