asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that fees payable to the Land Registry Office in respect of copies of maps and certificates are accepted only if paid by postal order or land registry stamps; and that money orders have been returned to the applicants with a request for postal order or stamps; and whether he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Registry Office.
54.
It is the normal practice of the Land Registry to accept cash, cheques, money orders and postal orders in payment of fees for copy maps, land certificates, copy documents, inspections and official searches. I regret that in one recent case, a bank money order was returned, in error, by an officer who was unfamiliar with this type of money order.
How is such an official employed by the Land Registry Office?
We are trying to get new staff. We have young men being trained now.
How much a year does he get?
I would need notice of that question. It may be that it was a Cork money order.
55.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that there is a delay of up to six months in the Land Registry Office in replying to correspondence from solicitors and many other persons and in issuing copies of maps, certificates and other information requested and paid for by the public; and whether he will make a statement on the matter having regard to the fact that the position appears to become worse weekly.
I am not aware of any undue delay in the Land Registry in replying to correspondence. If, however, the Deputy has a particular case in mind where a reply was delayed for six months, and if he will let me have particulars, I will have it investigated.
I am aware that there are unacceptable delays in dealing with applications that involve mapping and that, in some cases, where urgency has not been established by applicants, delays of up to six months are occurring. These delays are caused by an accumulation of arrears arising from (1) an increase, in 1968, of 20 per cent in the number of applications received as compared with the previous 12 months, coupled with staff shortages, (2) the necessity to enlarge existing 6" maps to 25" to comply with the Land Registration Rules, 1966, (3) some Ordnance Survey sheets going out of print and (4) maps damaged by usage over the years.
Since I replied to a previous question on the subject, on 29th October, 1968, all but one of the then existing vacancies in the mapping branch have been filled. It will be some time, however, before the impact, on arrears, of the additional staff will be apparent. In the meantime, I have arranged for the working of full overtime, including Saturdays, by experienced staff to clear existing arrears.
As I mentioned in replying to the question on 29th October, 1968, I appointed a study group to undertake a critical examination of the organisation and procedures in the Land Registry. I have now before me the first report of the group, which deals with the overall organisational structure of the office. The group will now proceed to study in detail the organisation and procedures of the mapping branch. It will take some time, of course, to complete the far-reaching reorganisation proposed, but I hope that by the end of the year a reorganised Land Registry will have emerged, which will be geared to deal expeditiously and efficiently with the growing volume of current business and the additional business which the gradual introduction of compulsory registration will generate.