Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2019
713. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a backlog in registrations in the Land Registry; if such a delay is holding up the sale of a property; if there is a system of expediting a particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12072/19]
View answerThe Property Registration Authority (PRA) is the State organisation responsible for the registration of property transactions in Ireland. In 2018, the PRA completed 226,111 land registry transactions, an increase of 17% on 2017. Over 80% of cases that were in order for registration and did not require a change to the map or examination of title were completed within ten days or less. At the end of 2018, there were 101,938 applications on hand.
Of the cases on hand, some 18% relate to first registration applications and such cases often take longer to resolve as the applications are legally complex and generally require queries with the lodging party. In addition, notice must be served on all interested parties and appropriate time allowed for objections. The PRA must also be fully satisfied that a case is fully grounded, the nature of the title proven and that all interested parties’ concerns have been fully considered before registering a State guaranteed title.
The number of first registration cases on hands is reflective of a large intake of such cases since the extension of compulsory first registration to the entire country in 2011. The PRA has put an action plan in place, including targeted resources and business process improvements, to tackle the first registration case-load. Importantly, it has put in place a number of initiatives to enhance its engagement with solicitors aimed at improving the quality of applications received. In particular cases, for example, where processing is required to facilitate a sale, a request to expedite can be submitted directly to the PRA, in accordance with its customer service policy.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for the Property Registration Authority is reps@prai.ie.
