Dáil Éireann - Volume 504 - 05 May, 1999

Written Answers. - Exchequer Revenues.

Mr. Ring Mr. Ring

278. Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when moneys seized by the Criminal Asset Bureau from drug barons will be allocated to youth and sporting projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11297/99]

Mr. O'Donoghue Mr. O'Donoghue

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): Moneys arising from interlocutory orders, obtained by the Criminal Assets Bureau under section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, are placed in appropriate bank accounts to await the making of disposal orders. A disposal order may be made by the High Court only after an interlocutory order has been in place for a period of not less than seven years. Consequently, no sum has been deposited with the Minister for Finance to be realised for the benefit of the Exchequer or with any such person as the High Court may determine.

It would be contrary to standard public accounting procedures to transfer particular revenues to particular purposes. All revenues are taken in by the Exchequer and such allocations as are necessary are made through the normal Estimates process.

419

I would also like to inform the Deputy that £25 million, from the young people's facilities and services fund, has been allocated by the Cabinet Committee on social inclusion and drugs to support the implementation of 295 facilities and ser[419] vices development projects in the 13 local drugs task force areas. In addition, up to £500,000 has been allocated, from the same fund, to voluntary organisations to deliver drug prevention programmes, at national and regional levels, focusing in particular on young people at risk of falling into the cycle of drugs and crime.

Dáil Éireann 504 Written Answers. Exchequer Revenues.

Questions

19990505