Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.

The Bureau has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and my Department.

Divisional Asset Profilers are trained by the Criminal Assets Bureau, and tasked with continuously providing a criminal asset profiling service in each Garda Division. These profilers are the eyes and ears of the Bureau, as they cover every Garda Division, and have first-hand knowledge of criminality in their geographic locations. The Divisional Asset Profiler Network provides the Bureau with an increased reach to all areas throughout the country.

I am informed by the Criminal Assets Bureau that at the 3 October 2023 there were 27 Asset Profilers assigned to the Meath/Westmeath Division. This represents an increase of 23% since the beginning of April 2021 when there were 22 Asset Profilers assigned to the Meath/Westmeath Division. I have been advised that these figures are operational and may be subject to change.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all decisions about Garda equipment. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions, and have no role in the issuance of contracts for purchase of Garda equipment, which are governed by standard Government procurement guidelines.

I have been advised by Garda management that, as of 18 August, there are 556 mountain bikes issued nationally for use by Garda members engaged in bike patrols. I am further advised that there are no unmarked Garda mountain bikes in the Garda Fleet, and there are no plans currently to have unmarked mountain bikes in the fleet.

I am further advised that An Garda Síochána intends to tender for additional mountain bikes for the service later this year, with a view to accepting delivery of new bikes in early 2024.