A computer system capable of tracking the movement of criminals, illegal immigrants and drug dealers across European borders will be built for the Garda at a cost of €15 million within two years, writes Jamie Smyth.

The computer - the Schengen Information System - will enable the Garda to issue alerts to other European police forces to crack down on cross-border crime. It will also hold personal data on suspects, including their names, sex, date of birth, nationality and whether the persons are armed or considered violent, tender documents obtained yesterday show.

The tender shows that the Garda will contract a consultancy to help them implement plans for the Schengen Information System by November 30th, 2002. Full implementation is not expected to be complete for about two years.

The system, which has been opposed by civil rights groups and the Green Party, is being introduced to enable the Republic to participate in the Schengen Agreement, which promotes greater harmonisation between police forces.

Originally signed by five states in 1985 outside of the EU political structure, the Schengen Agreement was finally incorporated within the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997.

Although it is not mandatory to join Schengen, 13 EU member-states have decided to do so. The drive to set up a common police force also gained pace this year with publication of an EU report, Feasibility Study for the Setting Up of An European Border Police.

The Schengen computer system comprises a central information system operating in Strasbourg and a corresponding system based in each state implementing the agreement. It acts as a database storing up to 10 million files on suspects, people who have gone missing and stolen goods.

The overall cost of the Garda project has been "tentatively estimated" at between €10 and €15 million. The system may have to be compatible with the Garda's existing Pulse System - an existing IT system which is significantly over budget, having cost more than €40 million by June 2002.

The Republic will also have to pay its share of the operational costs of the central and general Schengen Information System, which are expected to be about €500,000 per year, the Department for Justice has said.

A decision by the European Council in May means that future development work on the Shengen Information System will be met from EU community funding.

The data protection commissioner, Mr Joe Meade, will carry out independent supervision of the national section of the system. He will ensure that the processing and use of the data do not violate rights of the persons concerned.

Individuals will retain the right to access information entered on the system, which relates to them, in accordance with data protection legislation in the Republic. But there are some instances when access to the data may be withheld, for example, if it was a risk to another person.

The Schengen Agreement came into force in the Republic from April 1st last.