Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is an annual audit of the total amount of unclaimed, seized or recovered property, that is held, sold or disposed of by An Garda Síochána; if he will consider asking the Garda Audit Committee to conduct such a study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29549/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The making of arrangements for the property that comes into the possession of An Garda Síochána is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that such property is managed under a dedicated property management system which is designed to facilitate the safe custody of the property. In that context specific regulations and requirements have been put in place which operate from the taking possession of the property through to its final disposal. Within this framework each property item is logged and tracked. The Garda authorities have also indicated that a monthly reconciliation of property records is carried out at each Garda station. In addition, senior Garda managers undertake the task of ensuring that the relevant policies and procedures are fully complied with.

The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and money realised from the sale of unclaimed or seized property is accounted for as an Appropriation-in-Aid within the Garda Vote. These funds are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Garda Internal Audit Section also audits all monies received by An Garda Síochána by way of Appropriations-in-Aid. The Garda authorities have also confirmed that the current arrangements for handling unclaimed, seized or recovered property are operating satisfactorily and that they will be kept under on-going review.