Vol. 510 No. 6
364 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff specifically dealing with the Mayo and Galway areas in the Land Registry Office in each of the past five years; the plans, if any, he has to increase this staffing level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23529/99]
I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that staff in the Land Registry are assigned on a regional basis. Counties Mayo and Galway are included with counties Sligo, Clare and Roscommon to comprise the Western Region. The average number of staff allocated to the Western Region in each of the past five years is 75.
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 in general. Urgent discussions in this regard are currently taking place with a view to obtaining a substantial increase in staffing numbers.
365 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of complaints received in the Land Registry Office in the past three years regarding the delays in obtaining copy documents such as folios and file plans. [23530/99]
I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that records are maintained in the Land Registry office in respect of dealings lodged for registration and applications lodged for copy documents and other services. However, records regarding the number of complaints about delays in obtaining documents are not maintained.
I am further informed that where it has been established by applicants that special circumstances of urgency exist, the Land Registry makes every effort to expedite the issue of copy documents.
366 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the length of time it takes for a copy folio or file plan for the Dublin area to issue from the Land Registry Office; and the length of time it would take, on average, for a copy folio or file plan for the Mayo area to issue as a comparison. [23531/99]
I am informed by the Registrar of Deeds and Titles that it is not possible to compare the average length of time taken for the issuing of a copy folio or file plan on an area by area basis as the length of time taken would depend on the number of similar applications lodged in respect of the areas concerned, whether the folio details are computerised or not for the areas concerned, whether the folios have a file plan prepared or not and whether the folios have any dealings or applications pending or not. It should also be borne in mind that the figures for County Mayo come within the collective averages for the Western Region.
However, as a guide to the service provided by the Land Registry, I can inform the Deputy that the average output for the Dublin region is approximately 75 copy folios per day. ln the case of the western region the average output is approximately 118 copy folios per day. Approximately 25% of the applications in the region are for County Mayo.
The main reason for ease of output of copy folios and file plans is the computerisation of folio details. Approximately 99% of all Dublin folios are computerised in comparison with 20% of those in County Mayo. In that regard, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there is a research project already under way in my Department to develop the computerisation of the Land Registry on an ongoing basis.
367 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a copy map and file plan from the Land Registry Office. [23532/99]
I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this application refers to an application for a copy folio and file plan which was completed on the 12 November 1999.
