Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Crime Prevention.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

646 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the estimated cost to the economy due to the sale of illegal drugs and substances; the amount of finance recouped by his Department through agencies such as the Criminal Assets Bureau; his plans to extend such agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26929/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The issue of the cost to the economy of drug abuse was addressed in the report on the national drugs strategy, Building on Experience – National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The report emphasised that the cost of drug misuse at a societal level is extremely difficult to quantify as it encompasses areas like the public health costs of disease associated with drug dependence, the cost of acquisitive crime and associated losses and insurance costs which are borne by both business and individuals. The level of State spending on drugs-related issues is also difficult to estimate and is complicated by the fact that expenditure is spread across a number of Government Departments, local authorities, agencies and other statutory organisations.

Even within Departments and agencies, it is difficult to arrive at an accurate estimate of costs associated specifically with drug misuse as services such as the Garda Síochána, the Prisons Service, the Courts and probation and welfare services, and the various health agencies, deal with drugs issues as part of their wider daily services.

Bearing these limiting factors in mind, the report on the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 estimated that the development, co-ordination and delivery of the four pillars – supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research – that make up the strategy approximated to £144 million in 2000. This figure is broken down by Departments and agencies in the following table:

Direct Expenditure in 2000

Department/Agency	Expenditure£m
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform	97.0
Department of Health and Children	25.2
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	4.7
Department of Education and Science	5.9
Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation	9.1
Revenue Commissioners (Customs and Excise)	1.5
State Laboratory	0.4
Total	143.8

Since its statutory inception in October 1996 and up to 31 December 2000 the Criminal Assets Bureau has obtained section 2 interim orders on property to a total value of over £8 million and section 3 interlocutory orders on property to a total value of over £7 million, under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996. During the same period the bureau demanded more than £37 million in the payment of tax and interest from persons suspected of involvement in criminal activity and social welfare determinations and savings amounted to more than £1.6 million. In addition, the bureau has collected £9.9 million in taxes.

An interlocutory order may be made by the High Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, which effectively freezes specified property which can be shown to be the proceeds of crime. If the interlocutory order remains in force for not less than seven years, then a disposal order may be sought. A disposal order will vest the property in the Minister for Finance, to be realised for the benefit of the Exchequer, or to such person as the court may determine. As the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, has not been in force for seven years no disposal orders have as yet been sought.

The objectives of the bureau are set out in section 4 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. There are currently no plans to extend the remit of the Bureau beyond the provisions of the 1996 Act.