Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps that have been taken to organise the Criminal Assets Bureau to tackle drug crime at local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22548/07]

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if plans are in place to enhance the resources and powers allocated to the Criminal Assets Bureau in view of the rise of gangland crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22555/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 126 together.

The Criminal Assets Bureau has been at the forefront of the fight against organised crime, including drug trafficking, in this jurisdiction since its inception in 1996. The significant successes that the Bureau continues to achieve by its operations demonstrates the effectiveness of its approach in pursuing illegally gotten gains.

The manner in which the Bureau operates has, in the eleven-year period of its existence, come to be viewed, both domestically and internationally, as a very successful model for targeting persons seeking to derive profits from criminal activities.

The Bureau keeps the allocation of personnel under constant review in light of its workload and where there is a requirement, additional resources are allocated to the Bureau.

The staff of the Bureau will be augmented as required. For example, two additional financial crime analysts posts have been recently sanctioned and recruitment is under way.

Furthermore two additional members of staff from the Revenue Commissioners will also be shortly assigned to the Bureau.

In relation to the issue of the Bureau's work at local levels, I can inform the Deputy that in order to maximise the benefit that can be derived from local knowledge, officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau work closely with gardaí from specific regions and localities in order to ensure that the efforts of the Bureau are targeted in the most effective manner possible.

In particular, profilers trained by CAB are now in place in each Garda Division and the number of profilers in particular Divisions is being increased. This will enable drug dealers at whatever level in communities to be pursued.

In this context, I have previously advised this House that I intend to include in the Government's policing priorities for An Garda Síochána a specific reference to enhanced liaison arrangements between Garda Divisions and the Criminal Assets Bureau in the pursuit of those engaged in drug dealing at all levels.

The use of local Garda officers in this way ensures that preparatory groundwork can be carried out in advance of a full investigation by the Bureau. Asset profilers have at all times recourse to the expertise and advice of the Bureau. Essentially a key function of these profilers is to ascertain and build up information at local levels and point out individuals at whom the Bureau's work can be targeted. Such information is then investigated and followed up further by CAB.

I can assure the House that any individuals in local communities who believe they can openly flaunt wealth or assets secured through illegal activities, including drug dealing, will be vigorously pursued by the Gardaí either through the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 or through the work of the Criminal Assets Bureau under its statutory remit.

Finally, I can assure the House that whatever resources are required by CAB will continue to be provided by the Government.