Síle de Valera
Question:63 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to computerise the Land Registry. [9740/96]
Written Answers. - Land Registry Computerisation.
A considerable investment is being made in computerisation and information technology in the Land Registry and the Registry of Deeds. Development work is also being undertaken in relation to digital mapping, training, strategic management and the installation in the registries of modern financial and accounting systems.
An information technology strategic plan for the registries is in place. This plan comprises a total of 33 different projects of which 12 have been completed to date and four are under way.
An application tracking system which is designed to enable the Land Registry to trace and manage its ever increasing caseload of applications has been installed in the Kildare-Wicklow regional group and in the Cork regional group to date. It is hoped to extend this application tracking system to other counties in the near future.
In line with the registries IT strategic plan, a digital mapping feasability study to evaluate the issues and business case for digital mapping in the Land Registry has just been completed and a report is being prepared on this subject.
A wide area network providing direct electronic communications between the Land Registry offices in Irish Life Centre and Aras Uí Dhálaigh has also been installed. This network was extended to the Registry of Deeds to allow searching of the abstract record database to take place from Irish Life. A major data capture programme of abstracts in the Registry of Deeds was completed in 1994 resulting in a computerised searching facility for the public. These achievements have provided a much improved and speedy service to the public.
I should also mention that some of the Land Registry's present accommodation will not support computerisation on the scale envisaged for the Land Registry and that plans are currently afoot to provide the registries with accommodation which will support computerisation.