Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
798. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice how many residential properties seized by CAB are still under remit of CAB due to the property being sold by CAB or issued to a local authority by CAB. [35773/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
I am advised that all monies seized by CAB are remitted to the Central Fund of the Exchequer after the appropriate statutory time frame under the Proceeds of Crime Acts (currently seven years must elapse from date of seizure to remittance to the Exchequer). Therefore, assets (including property) seized in a given year are not remitted to the Exchequer in that year.
I am given to understand that the Deputy is seeking the number of properties that CAB have seized under the Acts and that remain unsold. As outlined above, property seized by the Bureau may only be sold once a disposal is authorised by a Court order under the Proceeds of Crime Acts and a 'power of sale' is granted to the Bureau.
I have been advised by the Bureau that currently there are 28 properties under CAB's remit where a 'power of sale' exists and the properties have not, as of yet, sold. I am further advised that 6 of these 28 properties are 'sale agreed'.
For the Deputy's information, 2 additional properties that were under the Bureau's remit have been sold in recent weeks.
