Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the value of property stolen and recovered for each of the years as requested in Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 15 February 2006. [9034/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities and the following table gives the total value of property stolen and property recovered for each of the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. Comparable statistics are not readily available for years 1998 and 1999 and would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to retrieve the information sought.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the value of property contained in the above table relates to property stolen and recovered for the crimes of robbery, theft and burglary. Other property which may be retained in Garda custody such as property lost, found or seized is not included. The value of property stolen or recovered is obtained through various methods depending on the level of investigation required. The source of a value ranges from reports by injured parties in cases where no proceedings are to commence, to a value requiring proof as is provided in evidence to a court, for example with jewellery, where the valuation will be provided by receipts or a valuation by an expert.

In addition the Criminal Assets Bureau takes actions under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996, as amended, to seize property which is shown in the High Court to be the proceeds of crime. Since its inception in 1996, the Criminal Assets Bureau has been granted interim and final restraint orders to the value of over €52 million and €23 million respectively and in addition in excess of €81 million has been the subject of tax demands.