Question:
157 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice the progress, if any, that has been made in implementing the decision of a previous Government in relation to restructuring and decentralising the Land Registry. [13606/95]
Written Answers. - Land Registry Changes.
Preparation of the draft heads of a general scheme of a Bill necessary for the proposed conversion of the Land Registry and the Registry of Deeds to semi-State status has commenced in my Department and I hope to be in a position to circulate a draft general scheme of the Bill to other Government Departments later this year.
In preparation for the change-over to semi-State status, some general restructuring of the Land Registry has taken place over the last number of years. Staff numbers have been increased and an ambitious five years information technology development plan has been embarked on. As a result of these measures, the level of arrears is being reduced. In addition, in recognition of the fact that the Land Registry is to become a commercial semi-State enterprise, a financial controller was appointed to the Land Registry in June 1994.
Arrangements for the decentralisation of part of the operations of the Land Registry to Waterford city are proceeding. It is intended that the sections of the Land Registry dealing with the counties of Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford will be transferred to Waterford and that the transfer of the work in question will involve in the region of 150 staff. The process of transferring, in advance of decentralisation to Waterford, civil servants into the Land Registry from other Departments, who have volunteered to go to Waterford, has commenced.
A site for the Waterford Land Registry office has been selected at Cork Road, Waterford. The Office of Public works are in the final stages of selecting a building contractor who will be awarded the contract for the construction of the Land Registry offices on a site at Cork Road, Waterford. It is hoped that the building will be ready for occupation by mid-1997.