Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of properties or businesses known to be in the hands of or funded by criminal gangs or in the course of acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35934/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for the Garda to quantify, at any given time, the number of properties or businesses which are in the hands of or funded by criminal gangs or in the course of acquisition by such gangs. The Garda continues to take a proactive and integrated approach to the investigation of all serious crime. The Criminal Assets Bureau continues, under its statutory remit, to target assets including property which are known to have been acquired through criminal activity. Some data available from the Criminal Assets Bureau may be indicative, however. Between its inception in October 1996 and 31 December 2004, the Criminal Assets Bureau obtained interim and final restraint orders to the value of over €52 million and €23 million, respectively. In the same period, taxes and interest demanded exceeded €81.8 million.