Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the specific additional resources he is making available to the Criminal Assets Bureau to enable them to target drug dealers at all levels of the trade. [26893/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Criminal Assets Bureau, under Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services, works closely with other national units, including the Garda National Drugs Unit, and senior investigating officers in all Garda Divisions to ensure, wherever possible, that assets derived from criminal activity, including drug-related crime, are subject to post-conviction confiscation, pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, 1994, civil restraint pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Acts, 1996-2005 and Revenue and Social Welfare legislation.

There are currently fifty-five personnel at the Criminal Assets Bureau, consisting of administrative, technical and professional staff, including the Bureau Legal Officer, members of An Garda Síochána and representatives from the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social and Family Affairs under the command of the Chief Bureau Officer.

In addition to this, two further forensic analysts are currently being recruited and a further Revenue bureau officer will be allocated before the end of the year.

The Garda National Drugs Unit liaises with the Criminal Assets Bureau to particularly target those criminals and criminal groupings believed to be deriving profits and assets from drug-related criminal activity.

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, the Bureau is utilising the services of Divisional Criminal Assets Profilers throughout the country. At present there are twenty seven divisional profilers appointed and operational. A further five members of An Garda Síochána are currently being trained as profilers.

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.

The complement of Divisional profilers will continue to be monitored and reviewed on an on-going basis and I have already included 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.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Criminal Assets Bureau has sufficient financial and other resources available to it to operate effectively pursuant to its statutory remit and that the Chief Bureau Officer keeps the allocation of personnel under constant review in light of the Bureau's workload.

I can assure the Deputy 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 will continue to keep the measures and resources for tackling drug trafficking under review and I repeat the assurance that I gave to the House recently during the lengthy debate on crime that it is my intention to continue to prioritise areas such as gun crime, organised crime and drugs.