Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of houses and apartments that have been repossessed in Galway city and county and around the country by the Criminal Assets Bureau in the past few years; the number that were sold, and the price and the location of these houses or apartments. [39209/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the Criminal Assets Bureau, while authorised by statute to own property, does not in fact own any property. Properties which are the subject of orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 are generally held by a Court appointed receiver. Once a final order is made, 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 Court proceedings. It is therefore the policy of the Bureau not to disclose information on specific properties until investigations have been completed and the Courts have made a final determination. It is therefore difficult for the Bureau to be specific in relation to the numbers that were sold and the price and location of these houses or apartments.

There are a significant number of properties around the country which are the subject of Section 7 receivership orders, some with a power of sale, and some without. However the majority of these are still subject to a final order from the Court. One particular property in County Galway has been the subject of an order pursuant to Sections 3 and 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act within the past few years. The receiver is in the process of inviting bids in the hope of effecting a sale of the property, final approval of which is subject to High Court approval. As the matter has the potential to be subject to further Court proceedings, it is not appropriate for the Bureau to provide further details on this case at present.

An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau are prohibited by legislation in disclosing details of ongoing investigations or legal proceedings prior to conclusion. The Criminal Assets Bureau is required, by statute, to prepare an Annual Report which is submitted to the Minister for Justice and Law Reform. The report for 2009, which was published this week, details in general terms the number of receivership orders granted and the funds collected by the Bureau.