Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent the Criminal Assets Bureau have adequate resources to tackle organised crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25019/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Criminal Assets Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime since its inception in 1996. The Bureau was established with a statutory remit of identifying and depriving persons of the proceeds of criminal activity. The Bureau is being actively utilised to target assets accumulated by criminal gangs. Furthermore, a strategic partnership has been established between the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau in identifying common targets who are then pursued through intelligence-led investigations, in order to maximise the response of law enforcement to organised crime gangs.

In recent years the Bureau has targeted the proceeds of crime of more middle and lower ranking criminals. A significant resource in this regard is the Divisional Asset Profilers Programme. Under this programme 167 asset profilers have been trained to date to assist the Bureau in targeting the assets of well known criminals, including drug dealers, in local communities, by supplying them with local knowledge. Asset Profilers are now based in every Garda Division in Ireland.

I am advised by the Garda Authorities that the Criminal Assets Bureau currently has sufficient financial and other resources to continue to operate effectively, pursuant to its statutory remit.