asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to a statement recently made by the President of the Incorporated Law Society regarding excessive delay in the Land Registry; and, if so, if he has any comment to make.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Registry Delays.
56.
I have seen the newspaper reports of the statement to which the Deputy refers. I am aware that there are still delays in the Land Registry despite constant efforts to eliminate them. These delays are due to the difficulty in maintaining the necessary clerical and technical staff strength, and to the inadequacy of augmented copying equipment, to cope with the continually increasing volume of business.
It is expected that competitions for the recruitment of Male Clerical Officers and for Mapping Draughtsmen will be held shortly and will, with the improved salary scales, make it possible to bring the staff strength up to requirements in the New Year. It is also expected that new and more efficient copying equipment which has been ordered will be in operation early in the New Year. In the meantime everything possible is being done by the working of overtime to keep delays to the minimum.
I think it as well to mention that many delays complained of are due, not to any shortcomings in the Land Registry, but to shortcomings in the applications submitted and to delay on the part of applicants in answering necessary queries issued. Some business is, by its very nature, necessarily slow and this applies particularly to applications for First Registration. It is conceivable that such an application could take up to a year to complete.
The Deputy may take it that I am keeping in constant touch with the situation in the Land Registry and that everything possible is being done to eliminate all avoidable delays.
Is it not abundantly evident that everything possible is not being done? Is it not manifest that whatever other difficulties there are, the installation of efficient copying machines is not a matter that need take more than 24 hours?
That is not so.
If the Minister will commission me to walk down any street in Dublin, I shall send him along all the copying machines he wants in 24 hours.
It is not as simple as that. Very complex and special type of equipment is needed.
Complex, my foot.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan): Is the Minister aware that some of the delays which he admits have taken place in the Land Registry have made it impossible for borrowers to take up loans from the Agricultural Credit Corporation within three months and that as a result they have lost the loans? Will the Minister so explain to the Minister for Finance in order that he may make these loans again available?
Additional photostatic equipment was installed in 1962 or 1963 but unfortunately it has proved inadequate. The Minister for Finance has now sanctioned the provision of additional equipment which is on order. Most of us know it is a favourite device of dilatory solicitors to blame the Land Registry.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Question No. 57.
(Cavan): The Minister has not dealt with my supplementary question. Does he admit some of the delays which he admits have taken place in the Land Registry have made it impossible for borrowers to take up their loans?
That is a different matter. The Deputy is drawing in extraneous matter.
(Cavan): With respect, it is not extraneous.
In this matter both the present Minister and his predecessor have strained every effort to improve the situation.
Is part of it not due to the recent requirements of the Land Act of this year?
No.
Yes, it is.
Are you still trying to attack the excellent Land Act of my colleague?