Trevor Sargent
Question:112 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance whether the confiscated assets of drug traffickers are and will be used to help pay for facilities to treat addicts. [1148/97]
Written Answers. - Drug Traffickers Assets.
Under the Criminal Justice Act 1994 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 any property which a court decides should be confiscated, forfeited or transferred to the Minister for Finance as a consequence of criminal activity must be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer. It is not open to me as Minister for Finance to specifically use such funds for any particular activity.
Receipts arising under the provisions of the above Acts will, however, form part of the total resources of the Central Fund and will help finance the general aggregate of public expenditure, including public expenditure to help the victims of crime and to tackle criminality.