Michael Ring
Question:754 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the time lag for dealings to be completed in relation to the vesting of land from the Land Commission to the purchaser will be investigated. [17609/99]
Written Answers. - Registration of Title.
Michael Ring
Question:755 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff dealing with the work involved in vestings on land from the Land Commission. [17610/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 754 and 755 together.
I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that it is the policy of the Land Registry to accord priority to dealings where registration is only effected on completion of the dealing. Property, the subject of Land Commission schedules, is deemed to be registered as of the date of vesting by the Land Commission. Accordingly, registration in the Land Registry of Land Commission schedules is afforded a lower priority than the registration of dealings. Moreover, transactions can proceed by reference to the schedule number.
Where a specific need arises which requires that registration of the dealing associated with the schedule be effected, the Land Registry will expedite the registration of the dealing at the request of the applicant.
There are two staff members assigned to dealing with Land Commission schedules at present.
Michael Ring
Question:756 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the operation of the Land Registry having regard to the length of time it takes for land dealings to be completed. [17611/99]
Arising out of the buoyancy in the economy and the current high level of activity in the housing market the number of dealings being lodged with, and the level of business being transacted by, the Land Registry has been increasing steadily for some years now and has been subject to unprecedented increases in recent years.
In this light I am pleased to note that significant efficiencies have been generated by the registries. For example, overall output of applications for registration has increased from 94,295 in 1993 to 113,108 in 1998 by 20 per cent.
In view of the current workload situation my Department has written to the Department of Finance making a strong case for the allocation of additional staff to deal with the increase in the level of business in the Land Registry. Urgent discussions in this regard are currently being held between the two Departments.
Michael Ring
Question:757 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will have his application finalised by the Land Registry. [17612/99]
I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this application refers to a transfer of part – sale – which was lodged on 13 April 1999. This dealing has been marked expedite and should, providing all the documentation is in order, be completed within the next six to eight weeks.