Vol. 490 No. 5
283 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason it is no longer possible to carry out searches at the Land Registry in Limerick; if the protocol which transfers all inquiries to the Waterford office is permanent; if not, if he will restore the facility in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10789/98]
The local office of the Land Registry in Limerick is located in the Circuit Court office which is under the control and management of the county registrar. The Land Registry records at the local office are normally continuously updated from information received from the Central Office of the Land Registry in Waterford. However, since the granting of a career break last December to a member of staff in the Circuit Court office, it has proved impossible to keep the records there up to date. As these records are relied upon by legal practitioners engaged in the conveyancing of property for clients, it was felt that liability might be incurred for potential loss because of failure to keep the records up to date. Consequently the county registrar decided to close the Land Registry section temporarily with effect from 6 April, 1998.
Last December, my Department immediately sought to fill the vacancy in Limerick Circuit Court office but due to difficulties outside its control has not yet been able to do so.
However, the current position is that arrangements are being made to hold interviews for the vacant position which will be filled shortly hereafter, thus enabling the county registrar to reopen the Land Registry section in Limerick Circuit Court office.
