Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 166: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the assets seized and paid over by the Criminal Assets Bureau during 2005 and to date in 2006; the amount of funds or property in each case; the criminal activity involved in each case; and the general location of the activity in each case. [41958/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the details of the activities of the Criminal Assets Bureau since its establishment in 1996 are contained in the Annual Reports of the Criminal Assets Bureau. These reports are quite comprehensive and include details of the number of cases commenced, money frozen under the Proceeds of Crime Act and details of money collected by the Bureau under the provisions of Revenue and Social Welfare legislation. Copies of the Annual Reports are available from the Oireachtas library.

Statistics in relation to monies seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau during 2005 are set out in the table.

Action by officials of the Revenue Commissioners attached to CAB have resulted in a total of €16,376,599.00 tax being collected. Action by officials of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs have resulted in savings of €216,054 to the Exchequer. Figures for the year 2006 will be provided in the report for that year when it is completed.

I am advised that, for operational reasons, it is not appropriate for the Bureau to categorise proceedings as being linked to particular criminal activity. However, I am informed that the majority of applications brought before the Courts over the last five years under legislation governing the proceeds of crime have, in general, been drug related. It is not the policy of the Bureau to specify locations for a number of reasons including the fact that many of the ongoing proceeds of crime applications are protected by "in camera" rules.