Vol. 563 No. 4
570 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of funding that has been distributed in each year since its inception from the Criminal Assets Bureau; the details of this distribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8187/03]
Since its establishment in October 1996 until 31 December 2002, the Criminal Assets Bureau has obtained final restraint orders on assets to the value of almost €19 million. In the same period, taxes and interest demanded were of the order of €69 million approximately with over €46 million collected. In addition, savings on social welfare payments amounted to over €1.4 million.
The Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 provides for the disposal of property by the courts for the benefit of the Exchequer where a final restraint, or interlocutory, order has been in force for not less than seven years. The issue of such disposal orders has not arisen to date therefore. Moneys obtained by the bureau as a result of actions taken under the revenue Acts are remitted to the Collector General forthwith.
