asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that it takes approximately five months to get a transfer of property cleared in the Land Registry; and if he can have the delay cut down to a reasonable time.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Registry Delays.
41.
I am aware that in certain cases five months is required to dispose of transfers of property at the Land Registry but this applies to exceptional, complicated cases only and the period for ordinary cases is about two months.
In recent years a substantial increase in the volume of business at the Land Registry, coupled with the time required to recruit and train the extra staff needed, has made for less expeditious disposal of cases. Overtime is being resorted to until the staff is effectively increased to the level required.
42.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that it takes approximately two months to get a land registry map; and if he will arrange to increase the number of draughtsmen engaged on this work so that such maps may be obtained within a reasonable time.
The period of two months taken to supply copies of Land Registry maps occurs only in exceptional cases, the period in ordinary cases being about two weeks.
There have been difficulties in recent years in the recruiting, and maintaining at an adequate level, of qualified technical staff, but the position at the moment is regarded as satisfactory.
Will the Minister not agree that there are only two draughtsmen employed on this work and that the usual period is two months?
I do not agree. The situation has improved considerably and we hope to improve it still further.
Will the Minister agree that the situation is as I have stated if I produce evidence to that effect?
The Deputy may know of an odd case of two months. I agree such cases do occur occasionally but they are to some extent due to the bad condition of some of the maps. We have now reached the situation where we can hope that a fortnight will soon be the normal time taken.
Is it true that there are only two draughtsmen employed?
It is not.