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Land Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021

Wednesday, 14 July 2021

Questions (135)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

135. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a number of instances across north County Donegal in which landowners have come into conflict with their neighbouring landowners arising from discrepancies between their original folio Land Registry maps and the maps that have emerged from the digitisation of the mapping system by the Property Registration Authority of Ireland; if he will request that an independent review of these discrepancies will be carried out; and the reason that such discrepancies occurred. [38396/21]

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Written answers

I am informed that the digitisation of the Property Registration Authority (PRA) map record took place between December 2005 and August 2010. During this period, approximately 2.5 million registered land parcels, comprising approximately 15 million line entities, were digitised from 36,000 PRA paper map sheets.

Having completed the digitisation of the PRA map record, a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the data capture was carried out. This study revealed an error rate of 0.18 per cent. It should be noted that the digital mapping project was much more than just a matter of transferring the registered land parcels from a paper map record to a digital map record. Listed below are some of the factors that contributed to the complexity of the challenges associated with the project:

- Moving all registrations from the now defunct County Series and Irish Grid map projections to the latest Irish Transverse Mercator map projection;

- Development schemes mapped on the PRA paper-based record were found to be at variance with the more accurate “As Built” layout presented by Ordnance Survey Ireland;

- Transferring registrations from Western seaboard counties which, up until the digital mapping project predominantly mapped on 1/10560 or 6” Ordnance Survey mapping, had not benefited from any revisions for decades;

- Deciphering map data on old PRA paper maps, some of which were 100 years old; and

- Deciphering map data on badly damaged PRA paper maps.

It should be noted that prior to the data capture element of the project, the process was validated by eminent international mapping/land administration experts.

I am further informed that the PRA has in place robust structures whereby the registered owners of properties or their representatives can engage with the PRA in relation to matters pertaining to the mapped representation of the registration. The PRA also has a longstanding and valued relationship with solicitors, surveyors, engineers and architects in all matters pertaining to property registration.

The PRA’s experience has been such that many of the queries received, once investigated, do not indicate any registration error. Many of the perceived errors do not emanate from the PRA but, in fact, can originate from inaccuracies in the application map lodged for registration. It should be noted that the responsibility for the accuracy of the application map lodged rests with the applicant.

There also needs to be due recognition given to the fact that the PRA digital mapping project resolved many thousands of pre-existing issues and anomalies that existed in the paper-based map system. Being pro-active in the adoption of Ordnance Survey topographical detail, during digitisation, has absolved many property owners of the need to incur costs in an effort to perfect or amend the Land Register to reflect the actual position on the ground.

As referred to previously, the PRA has in place a robust structure whereby the registered owners of properties or their representatives can engage with the PRA in relation to matters pertaining to the mapped representation of the registration(s). Registrations that are queried require a considerable amount of effort to investigate. There is a requirement to retrieve the original registration documents and maps in order to facilitate a thorough analysis and examination. On some occasions, there is a necessity to revert to and consult with Irish Land Commission maps and documentation in order to draw a conclusion. Statistics show that approximately 50 per cent of the cases reviewed by the PRA result in no change to the registration, yet they are very time consuming to investigate. Of course, the PRA makes every effort to review each case in as timely a manner as possible.

Having regard to the foregoing, I have no plans to conduct or commission an independent review of alleged discrepancies.

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