Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
431. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average time in 2023 for Táilte Éireann to resolve applications to correct mapping errors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19535/24]
View answer432. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applications to resolve map errors are currently outstanding with Táilte Éireann; and of those, how many are listed as expedited by Táilte Éireann. [19536/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together.
Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.
In amending the Land Register, it is important to ensure that the integrity of the Register is maintained, that no party will suffer a financial loss as a result of the amendment, and that all affected parties are aware of the amendment. Tailte Éireann has advised that every request to investigate a potential error on the Land Register or Map results in a thorough investigation, necessitating retrieval of various Instruments and documents from Tailte Éireann archives and, at times, from the Land Commission archives. Any objections received from service of notice must also be taken into account and can lengthen the processing time significantly.
2,847 new applications were received by the dedicated Register and Mapping Review Unit in Tailte Éireann in 2023. However, there were a number of applications on hand at the start of January 2023 which has contributed to the delays in processing same. 2,969 cases were completed in 2023 of which 1,486 found that there were no errors in registration. Tailte Éireann has advised that currently, there are 538 applications pending in the Register and Mapping Review Unit where an issue has been identified with the Registry map. There are 1,549 cases pending review in relation to possible issues with the Registry map, of which 25 have been identified as Expedite cases. The requests are being processed in date order from the date of first notification of the potential error. It is understood that Tailte Éireann is in the process of adopting new procedures to improve the processing times for map investigations and are confident that waiting times will decrease as a result.
It is important to note that in all cases, sufficient evidence of the error must be provided in order for Tailte Éireann to investigate. It is recommended that the registered owner of the property, or their solicitor, request a copy of previous Instruments to ascertain where the possible error may have originated. The registered owner, or their solicitor, should then forward the written request to investigate by email to QAexternal@tailte.ie or by post to Tailte Éireann, Chancery Street, Dublin 7, Ireland, D07 T652.
Every effort is made to expedite applications where valid grounds exist, and where sufficient evidence of the error has been provided. Further information in relation to specific cases may be obtained by Oireachtas members by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of Tailte Éireann at oireachtas@tailte.ie.
