Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topical issue. I have raised this matter before, as the Minister is aware. The week before last, at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, we examined a European model for the Criminal Assets Bureau. The Irish system and model is held up by member states across Europe as the ideal and there are attempts to duplicate CAB across Europe, which is welcome.

At the meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, I said it was time to examine the procedures for CAB, which are defined in legislation. It is time for a conversation on how to use the funds gathered by CAB. Under section 21 of the Act, a report must be laid before the House. The report breaks down the money confiscated under three headings - the proceeds of crime, money liable to be paid to the Revenue Commissioners and money liable to be paid to the Department of Social Protection. I asked whether we could ring-fence money coming from CAB to put into communities ravaged by drug abuse. The idea has merit and is one we should explore at the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality.

When I raised this point in the past, the Minister has told me that ring-fencing money runs contrary to the Estimates procedure. The second reason is the amounts confiscated vary each year, which will not allow for proper funding streams for community projects that need to be planned three or four years in advance. However, there are a number of one-off capital projects and promotional projects that local drugs task forces and community groups could use year after year.

There is merit in ring-fencing the portion of money under the proceeds of crime heading. Between 2006 and 2010, that sum amounts to €14 million, whereas the money to be repaid to the Revenue Commissioners amounts to €44 million and money to be repaid to the Department of Social Protection amounts to €1 million. The sum of €14 million out of that pot is a significant amount of money to put into communities dealing with drug abuse at the coalface. It only requires an amendment to the legislation to enable it to happen. I ask the Minister to consider the idea.

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