Written Answers Nos. 531-552
531. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which higher education continues to meet workplace requirements in terms of suitably qualified personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6749/22]
View answer532. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which his Department continues to encourage appropriately qualified graduates to meet all workplace requirements having particular regard to the trends which would appear to indicate a substantial number of vacancies under various headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6750/22]
View answer533. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which his Department monitors job vacancies as opportunities become available for variously qualified graduates with a view to filling vacancies in the workforce as quick as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6751/22]
View answer534. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which appropriately qualified young persons are in a position to take-up positions at various levels throughout the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6752/22]
View answer535. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students likely to graduate on an annual basis over the next five years with a qualification to fill the job vacancies becoming available having regard to recent experiences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6753/22]
View answer536. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he and his Department have identified the full extent of job qualification requirements throughout the workforce; the degree to which measures are in hand to ensure the filling of all such posts in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6754/22]
View answer537. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the nature and educational requirements of the jobs advertised or otherwise indicated as being in need of being filled over the past five years; the extent to which academic and non-academic requirements have emerged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6755/22]
View answer538. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his expectations regarding the likely availability of job opportunities with academic and non-academic qualifications in the future; the extent to which he expects to meet such market requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6756/22]
View answer539. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which third-level institutions are in a position to meet the supply of graduates necessary throughout the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6757/22]
View answer541. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the degree to which he expects to influence the higher education system to ensure the ongoing availability of a steady stream of highly qualified technicians and academics on par with the best in the world which provides a workforce competent in the skills required in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6759/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539 and 541 together.
I propose to take PQs 6749, 6750, 6751, 6752, 6753, 6754, 6755, 6756, 6757 and 6759 together.
The challenge to ensure a well-qualified labour force to meet the demands of the economy is a fundamental focus for my Department across the entire skills system, including tertiary - composed of further and higher education - and also through the research ecosystem at fourth level.
Ireland has an advanced system of skills provision, across further and higher education and lifelong learning, which is agile and responsive to changes in the world of work. It is, of course, also critical that graduates acquire technical and transversal skills, and that our talent pipeline meets these dual and complementary needs. We know that in a dynamic economy and labour market there will be skills gaps. The imperative is to ensure that our skills forecasting and delivery system is proactive in assessing and responding to the existing and emerging skills needs in our economy and society. My Department’s skills policies continue to be developed taking account of ‘mega-trends’ impacting on labour demand including digitalisation, automation and climate change.
Underpinned by the framework of the National Skills Strategy 2016-2025, a core principle of skills policy development in Ireland is partnership with enterprise and other key stakeholders. This is achieved through a range of partnership platforms, which foster engagement, dialogue, and collaboration between relevant Government Departments and agencies, the education and training system, the enterprise agencies, and private sector representatives.
The development of skills policy and responses to skills needs is evidence based and informed by the work of the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SOLAS) and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs in relation to the supply of and demand for occupational skills. The SLMRU also provides an analysis of Ireland’s online job vacancies (at occupational level) and difficult-to-fill job vacancies in their National Skills Bulletin each year. In addition, the EGFSN undertakes research and horizon scanning on medium to longer term skills demand across specific occupations or sectors, as informed by Government or specific sectoral strategies.
Specific projections for the number of higher education graduates are not currently produced, as a number of variables can impact graduate output in any one year. However, projections of full-time enrolments in higher education predict that enrolments will rise by at least 8% over the next five years, and work is ongoing to build capacity within the system to accommodate this increase. The number of students graduating from higher education courses each year has increased from 64,246 in 2015 to 81,461 in 2020, an increase of more than 25% in five years.
Further Education and Training (FET) provides a continuum of learning opportunities for around 200,000 unique learners each year from Levels 1 to Level 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), and it provides an opportunity for everyone to engage in learning whilst delivering on the critical skills needs of the economy and the future world of work. FET provision includes labour market focused programmes, and these programmes are available on both a full and part-time basis including evenings and weekends, to suit the lives of learners of all ages and from all backgrounds. The FET system performance framework also sets out targets specifically in relation to supporting jobs.
The mainstream supply of graduates is supplemented with more targeted initiatives designed to meet specific skills needs of employers. Key national targeted initiatives across the tertiary system include Springboard+, the Human Capital Initiative, Skills to Advance and Skills to Compete. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The actions set out in the plan seek to deliver a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. In 2021 there were a record 8,607 registrations.
Looking forward, the OECD Skills Strategy Project, which I launched in November, will greatly assist my Department in its examination of our National Skills Strategy and approach - in order to ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build Ireland’s competitiveness and support economic and social sustainability into the future.
540. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which his Department continues to monitor incidents of bullying in the workplace throughout the higher education system; the extent to which action has been taken or is proposed to deal with such issues in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6758/22]
View answerOur higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to their safety and their active participation in college life.
As part of the Framework for Consent, institutions must report incidents of Bullying, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Assault to the Higher Education Authority. The introduction of the ‘Speak Out’ tool on 18th October 2021 will allow them to report in a timely and standardised fashion.
The Deputy will be aware that there are a number of Programme for Government (PfG) commitments aimed at addressing sexual harassment and bullying. Specifically the PfG commits to “Ensure that every Higher Education Institution commissions a survey for all staff and students on harassment, sexual harassment, and bullying, with a view to informing their equality, diversity and inclusion action plans.”
Following consultation with key stakeholders, a decision was made to undertake separate surveys on sexual violence & harassment and to commission distinct surveys on bullying.
I officially opened the surveys on sexual violence and harassment in April 2021 and published the survey reports a few weeks ago in late January. The surveys, conducted by the Higher Education Authority, were sent by higher education institutions directly to all students and staff in higher education. A total of 11,417 responses were analysed (7,901 students and 3,516 staff) and inform the findings. My Department is now working with the expert Advisory Group established by the HEA, to consider the recommendations from these reports and to determine how best to respond to the survey findings.
As for bullying, this act of aggression and dominance cuts to the very bone of the victim and, like cases of sexual violence and harassment, can have profound impacts on an individual’s life, livelihood, relationship and participation in the community.
It must be our collective aim to work together in partnership to build a society, culture and institutions where these behaviours are not tolerated. To protect victims and ensure accountability, we must:
- Prevent - through information and awareness raising especially on matters such as consent;
- Reduce - through structures, procedures and policies that severely limit the potential occurrence of sexual harassment and bullying; and
- Support – by ensuring that each and every victim of sexual harassment and bullying is given the right supports and space to heal.
I’ve written to our higher education institutions advising them that two surveys will be conducted in relation to bullying among staff and students. These surveys are being conducted by researchers at the DCU National Anti-Bullying Centre.
The aim of the surveys is to gain a deeper understanding into the experiences of bullying among and between Higher Education staff and students in Ireland, including the current prevalence, nature and effects of these issues. This will provide an evidence base to inform policy in the area.
The survey on bullying amongst staff in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) was carried out in 2021. The DCU National Anti-Bullying Centre is currently in the process of analysing the survey findings with a view to publishing the survey report in late spring. My Department is working with DCU’s National Anti-Bullying Centre to progress work on a student survey on bullying.
I will continue to lead the way on institutional change, championing the changes required, listening to survivors and working in collaboration to achieve justice for victims and a cultural norm where bullying and sexual harassment are not tolerated.
542. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Justice if she has plans to bring forward legislation to deal with cyber flashing and online harassment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6490/22]
View answerFlashing is a criminal offence under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. While flashing is a term we are all familiar with, the concept of cyberflashing is relatively new.
There are, however, a number of offences already on the statute book which criminalise behaviours that can be described as cyberflashing. The existing offence for flashing, contained in section 45(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2017 is not restricted to physical places and would also apply in the online context.
In addition, it is an offence under section 45(3) of that Act to intentionally engage in offensive conduct of a sexual nature. “Offensive conduct of a sexual nature” means any behaviour of a sexual nature which, having regard to all the circumstances, is likely to cause fear, distress or alarm to any person who is, or might reasonably be expected to be, aware of any such behaviour.
A person convicted of an offence under either of these provisions would be liable on summary conviction to a fine or up to six months imprisonment, or on indictment for up to two years imprisonment.
If such images are sent by phone or text message it may constitute an offence under Section 13(1)(a) of the Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951 (as amended by the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007) which makes it an offence to send by telephone (including by text message) any message that is grossly offensive, or is indecent, obscene or menacing.
Coco’s Law, otherwise known as the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, contains an offence of distributing, publishing, or sending a grossly offensive communication with intent to cause harm. Under this offence, harm is caused by seriously interfering with a person’s peace and privacy or by causing alarm or distress to the person. The penalty for such a conviction can be an unlimited fine or up to two years imprisonment.
In addition to the above offences, persistent cyberflashing may amount to harassment within the meaning of section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
An amendment introduced by the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 broadens the scope of the offence of harassment to include persistent communication about a person, sometime referred to as indirect harassment. It also increases the maximum penalty for harassment from 7 years’ to 10 years’ to reflect the harm caused by the most serious forms of harassment.
The new legislation is intentionally silent about the types of technology that may be used to commit the offences so as to cover all forms of online and offline communications that cause harm to a victim.
In the context of the Deputy’s question, it is important to acknowledge the work of my colleague, Minister Catherine Martin, T.D., who has recently published and initiated in Seanad Éireann, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. The Bill will establish a Media Commission to replace the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and provide for the appointment of an Online Safety Commissioner who will oversee the establishment of a regulatory framework for online safety.
Under the framework, the Online Safety Commissioner will devise online safety codes requiring certain designated online services to operate appropriate systems and processes to minimise the availability of some of the most serious forms of harmful online content. Such content will include certain criminal material, including a number of relevant offences from the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 and the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997.
543. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice if a visa application by a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5816/22]
View answerThe citizenship application of the person referred to by the Deputy was approved. However, there were issues with the original passport photos, which the applicant has now re-submitted. The certificate of naturalisation will be issued by my Department in the coming days.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
544. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the number of full-time equivalent gardaí currently stationed at Rathcoole Garda station, County Dublin. [5837/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources, including the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. I further understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to him or her, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.
Rathcoole Garda Station, as of 31 December 2021, has 18 members assigned (1 sergeant and 17 Gardaí).
I am pleased that Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of the Government to ensuring our communities are safe and that An Garda Síochána has the resources to be an effective and trusted policing service. The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of over €2 billion in funding for this year.
This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Gardaí and a further 400 Garda staff. This significant investment demonstrates the Government's commitment to increasing the Garda workforce to enable the organisation to keep our communities safe.
545. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she has recently reviewed the resources available to provide legal aid in each of the law centres here; if her attention has been drawn to staff shortages which have resulted in delayed legal proceedings; the action she proposes to take to ensure that sufficient solicitors are available in each law centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5838/22]
View answerThe Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (the “Act”) and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. Section 3(3) of the Act states that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions.
Funding of €47.917 million has been allocated to the Legal Aid Board for 2022, an increase of 7.5% on the 2021 allocation of €44.575 million. The matter of staffing and resource allocation is, however, an operational matter for the Board, in accordance with the provisions of the 1995 Act. As part of ongoing governance arrangements, officials in my Department continue to engage and work with the Board on addressing such matters.
546. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding residency status or an extension to the current visa in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5843/22]
View answerIn April 2019, as an exceptional measure, the person referred to by the Deputy was granted a further period of permission for 10 months, subject to certain conditions. They were advised of this by letter dated 2 April 2019, and informed that this permission could not be extended by local immigration authorities.
The person concerned was further advised to contact the Immigration Service of my Department a few weeks prior to the expiry of their permission and to furnish a number of documents with any request for further permission, namely:
- Copy of passport (all pages) and proof of address (for example, tenancy agreement/rental book);
- Evidence of employment (for example, recent payslips and contract of employment) or self-sufficiency;
- Proof of finances (for example, bank statements for a period of not less than 3 months); and
- Evidence of medical insurance for the person concerned and their dependants and payment of same.
My Department has not received the requested documents and the person should write to the EU Treaty Rights Unit without delay. Any queries can also be made directly to the EU Treaty Rights Unit at: eutreatyrights@justice.ie .
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
547. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice the rules and regulations applicable to the use of personal or other mobile phones by persons serving detention in a prison (details supplied). [5861/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that possession of a mobile phone in prison without the permission of the Prison Governor is a criminal offence under Section 36 of the Prisons Act 2007.
Any prisoner found to be in possession of a mobile phone in prison is subject to disciplinary action under the prisoner disciplinary system and the matter referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation and possible prosecution.
The Deputy may be aware that in the Open Centers, Shelton Abbey and Loughan House, a number of prisoners have been provided with a prison issue mobile phone to allow them to contact family and friends. The handsets are basic models and there are strict conditions attached to their use.
The Irish Prison Service employs a dedicated team of staff in all closed prisons, the Operational Support Group, whose primary function is to prevent the trafficking of contraband, including mobile phones, into our prisons. The Operational Support Group continue to find and seize mobile phones, accessories and components through the use of security screening and searching.
The Operational Support Group use metal detectors, canine detection, security screening and intelligence led searches to deter such activity and detect phones. They continue to research varying equipment and technology that will assist them in their efforts.
In the coming weeks they are to commence upgrading metal detectors to models which can detect both metal and specific mobile phone components. Random and intelligence led searches continue to be effective methods in detecting and retrieving mobile phones within our prisons.
548. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by customers trying to get an appointment in the Dublin area to register their presence in Ireland with immigration service delivery in order to get an Irish residence permit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5866/22]
View answerAs a result of the unavoidable delays created from the closing of the Registration Office in Burgh Quay during Covid-19 restrictions, and the reduced capacity guidelines when open, a high number of customers are now coming forward to seek an appointment. As of 31 January 2022, the Registration Office of my Department is operating at 70% capacity, and under current plans will increase to 100% capacity in mid February.
As part of my Department’s ongoing work to meet the current unprecedented demand for first-time registration appointments, on 10 January 2022, a Freephone service (1800 741 741) was introduced for customers. It is currently operating 12 hours a day from Monday to Friday (8am to 8pm) and 8 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday (9am to 5pm). There are between 15 and 20 customer service representatives taking calls and making appointments. All appointments for customers to register their immigration permission are now issued through this service, with operators offering one appointment per call, unless it is for an identifiable family group. There are currently 9,631 first time registration appointments booked up to 29 April 2022 via the Freephone service. This equates to almost two-thirds of the total number of first time registrations completed in 2021 (15,125).
Additionally, the Registration Office processed 66,321 online renewals and issued 6,805 re-entry visas during 2021.
The current appointment system has been suspended and a new Immigration Service appointment and scheduling system, which will streamline and further improve the registration process, is currently being developed and is expected to be available to customers shortly.
Since July 2020, all Dublin based customers seeking to renew their immigration permission can do so online at inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login .
The Registration Office’s customer service team is also available to support customers who may have language difficulties or may need assistance with translation. A number of multi-lingual videos describing the registration process and what to expect are available on our website www.irishimmigration.ie .
Any prospective Irish employer must first obtain an employment permit if intending to employ a non-EEA national for more than 90 days. Should the non-EEA person be successful in securing an employment permit, they must, if required, make an application for a visa that will allow them permission to travel to the State. Matters relating to employment permits do not fall within my remit and are a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Further information can be found on that Department's website at: www.enterprise.gov.ie .
549. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if a cap has been set for the number of persons who may apply for participation in the scheme to regularise members of the immigrant undocumented community; if access to the scheme is open ended in terms of the number of persons who may apply; the steps that she will take if the number of applicants exceeds the unsourced estimates provided by her Department of up to 17,000 persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5878/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government committed to bringing forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government. It did not suggest any limit or cap on the numbers who might benefit from such a scheme.
As previously advised to the Deputy, there is no official data on the number of undocumented people in the State but the MRCI have estimated that there could be up to 17,000 undocumented people including up to 3,000 children.
In the absence of official data, my Department has allowed for the possibility of higher numbers in our plans to process applications. Consequently, and in line with the Programme for Government commitment, there is no cap on the number of applications that will be accepted. However, it is important to note that the scheme is time limited and no applications will be accepted after 31 July 2022.
The scheme opened for applications on the 31 January 2022 and will bring some much-needed certainty and peace of mind to thousands of people who are currently living in a vulnerable position due to their lack of immigration status.
550. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice the process for appointing a coroner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5879/22]
View answerThe legislation governing the appointment of coroners is set out in the Coroners Act 1962, as amended. Section 8 of the Act makes provision for the appointment of coroners outside of the Dublin District. Coroners are appointed for particular districts within a local authority area by the local authority.
Subsection 6A of the Coroners Act 1962 as inserted by the Coroners (Amendment) Act 2019, provides that the Coroner for the District of Dublin shall be appointed by the Minister for Justice.
The Act also makes provision for the appointment of a Temporary/Acting Coroner in certain circumstances.
The main qualifying criteria for appointment as a coroner is that the person be a practising barrister or solicitor of at least five years' standing, or a registered medical practitioner who has been registered, other than provisionally or temporarily, under the Medical Practitioners Acts, 1927 to 1961, in the Register of Medical Practitioners for Ireland for at least five years.
551. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice the number of Scott service medals awarded to members of An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2016 to 2021; the criteria for recommendation for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5880/22]
View answerThe Scott Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and is awarded for ‘most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty’.
Scott Medal nominees are selected from recommendations that are provided by the Garda Divisions on an annual basis to the adjudication board, which is comprised of two Deputy Commissioners and an Assistant Commissioner. The Board decides on the class of Medal (Gold, Silver or Bronze) to be awarded due to the level of 'bravery and valour' exhibited by the member.
Nominations in respect of serving Garda members are submitted to the adjudication board by the relevant Divisional Officer (Chief Superintendent). In the cases of posthumous awards or awards to retired members, family members or colleagues may put forward a request for nomination. The nomination then goes to the Divisional Officer for their consideration.
I have been advised by the Garda authorities that Scott Medal award ceremonies were held in 2016, 2017 and 2021. No ceremonies were held in the years 2018-2020.
The below table shows a breakdown of Medals awarded by year and by class (Gold, Silver, Bronze).
|
Year |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
|
2016 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
|
2017 |
7 |
3 |
7 |
17 |
|
2021 |
4 |
9 |
15 |
28 |
552. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the current position in relation to the registration of rights of way (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5888/22]
View answerIn terms of the registration of prescriptive easements (including prescriptive rights of way), I can inform the Deputy that the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2021 was enacted, and came into operation on 30 November 2021.
The 2021 Act repeals a number of changes to the law on prescriptive easements, under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009, which were due to come into effect on 1 December 2021.
Following the 2021 Act, a person who claims to be entitled to a prescriptive right of way can still apply after that date to register it with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland (PRAI), though there is now no obligation to do so.
The effect of the 2021 Act is that the applicant does not lose the benefit of periods of long use that were acquired before or during the period 2009 to 2021, where no application had been made before the previous deadline of 1 December 2021.
As well as repealing the changes that were due to take effect on 1 December, the 2021 Act also provides that applications to register a prescriptive right that were already pending on 30 November 2021 will continue to be decided as they were before that date.
Both the changes due to come into effect on 1 December, and the 2021 Act, relate only to prescriptive easements (and prescriptive profits à prendre); therefore, they do not affect public rights of way, or rights that are set out in written title deeds.
Any queries on the registration process can be directed to the PRAI, which is under the responsibility of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The PRAI have issued on their website an updated Practice Direction on the registration of easements acquired by prescription, in light of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2021. Please see link below for further information.
www.prai.ie/registration-of-easements-and-profits-a-prendre-acquired-by-prescription-under-section-49a/
