asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to problems that are currently being caused in urban areas in relation to the enforcement of different pieces of legislation because of the inability of citizens to establish the ownership of property or sections of property; if, as a consequence, he is prepared to introduce legislation to ensure that the ownership of property is disclosed and that solicitors, auctioneers and others acting as agents for private owners will be obliged to name the owners or alternatively name the company which have a legal interest in the property in order to enable citizens to avail of the rights afforded to them under legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Establishment of Property Ownership.
41.
I am not aware of any problems which might be involved in the areas referred to in the question. If the Deputy supplies details of specific instances of the difficulty he has in mind I will have the matter examined.
In so far as the question may refer to registered property, the registers in the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds are open to the public on payment of the prescribed fee. Much property in urban areas is, of course, unregistered. In that regard section 24 of the Registration of Title Act, 1964 provides that the Minister for Justice may by order determine that compulsory registration shall apply to any county or county borough. Since the enactment of the 1964 Act compulsory registration has been introduced in three counties only, namely, Carlow, Laois and Meath. It would be my intention to extend compulsory registration to other areas as soon as the availability of resources permits.