Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Land Registry Office.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

359 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 196, 198 and 199 of 15 October 2003, if 205 staff will still be required at the Land Registry office, Waterford, when the computerising of all paper based folios and file plans has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24256/03]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

360 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 15 October 2003, if there is a proposal to transfer operations from the Land Registry office, Waterford, back to the Land Registry office in Dublin, particularly when computerising of all paper based folios and file plans at the office in Waterford has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24257/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that the levels of staffing in all regions of the Land Registry are based on the volume of casework lodged. In this regard, the Deputy might wish to note that the level of applications being lodged in the Land Registry and the demand for other services has continued to grow. Despite reaching record levels of productivity to date for 2003, output has still not matched intake. The introduction of IT sys tems and the computerising of folios and maps will assist staff in matching output with intake and enhance the services provided. I can also confirm that there are no proposals to transfer operations from the Land Registry office in Waterford back to Dublin.