Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of properties that the Criminal Assets Bureau own in the Dublin 8 area; if CAB own a property (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17682/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised that the Criminal Assets Bureau, while authorised by statute to own property, does not of itself own any properties.

Properties, which are the subject of orders under the Proceeds of Crime legislation, are generally held by a Court Appointed Receiver. Once a final order is made by the Court, the ownership of the property becomes vested in the Minister for Finance.

While the Bureau regularly targets certain properties under both the Proceeds of Crime and taxation legislation, there are statutory limitations on the disclosure of such information in the course of investigations and any subsequent court proceedings.

It is therefore the policy of the Bureau not to disclose information on specific properties until investigations are completed and the Courts have made a final determination.