asked the Minister for Justice the proposals he has to improve the service being given to the public by the Land Registry Office.
16.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Registry Office.
15.
asked the Minister for Justice the current position regarding outstanding applications for examination in the Land Registry; the number of outstanding dealings presently being considered by the Land Registry; the average delay in disposing of Land Registry dealings; and the proposals he has to provide the Land Registry with sufficient staff and technology to expedite the backlog of dealings with the Land Registry to date.
(Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.
The Land Registry have been radically re-organised in recent years and, within the constraints imposed by the embargo on public service posts, the efficiency of the registry is under constant review.
The registry receive about 120,000 applications annually for land certificates, copy maps, copy folios and instruments and these are supplied within four to six working days on average. About 90,000 applications for registration of title are lodged annually; of these roughly 95 per cent are completed within about three months on average. The remaining 5 per cent consist of complex cases such as first registration applications or applications for establishment of title by possession. Those cases take about 15 months on average to complete. Detailed examination of title and extensive correspondence are normally involved as well as the issue of statutory notices to interested parties, which usually gives rise to further correspondence.
The numbers of outstanding applications on 31 January 1984 were as follows: Land certificates, copy maps, copy folios and instruments, 2,570; Registration of transactions affecting land already registered 24,065; First registration, including establishment of title acquired by possession 6,175.
Proposals for a radical reorganisation of the processing of applications for first registration, including establishment of title acquired by possession — the only area in which there is a problem — have been prepared for some time but because of the embargo on public service posts they cannot be implemented at present. In the meantime all that can be done by the Land Registry to speed up the processing of the applications under the existing system is being done.
In so far as technology is concerned, a programme of computerising the Land Registry folios commenced in December 1982. It was decided to start with Dublin because there were no duplicate folios available for Dublin as there are in the local offices for the other 25 counties. It is expected that all the Dublin folios will be computerised by mid-1985 and the programme will then be extended to other areas of the country.
I welcome the Minister's assurances that the procedures will be updated but could he put a figure on the number of delays caused because of insufficient information being supplied? Has there been any communication between his Department and other bodies who have an input into the Land Registry with a view to making the supplying of information more efficient?
(Limerick East): It depends on which activity of the Land Registry is being discussed. As I said, about 120,000 applications for copy maps, land certificates, copy folios and so on are received yearly and they can be supplied within four to six working days. About 90,000 applications for registration of title are lodged annually and roughly 95 per cent are completed within three months on average. The remaining 5 per cent of complex cases of first registration are causing difficulties and sometimes they take on average 15 months to complete. Extensive correspondence is involved and letters have to be written frequently. That is why it can take up to 15 months to complete the work.
What time is taken to complete the transfer of ground rent purchases under the scheme?
(Limerick East): That is a different question but there is a considerable delay at the moment because, as a result of extending the scheme for a further 12 months, there was a huge number of applicants. I will find out how long the delay is and I will communicate that information to the Deputy.
Would the Minister agree that the Land Commission is a commercial proposition as far as the State is concerned and is making money? In view of that fact, it is only commonsense to increase staff, to improve staff efficiency an to introduce computerisation and any other step which can be taken to make this an even more viable office. I ask the Minister to take a favourable look at the Land Commission because of this fact.
(Limerick East): The computerising of the Land Commission is going ahead and all folios for Dublin will be computerised by mid-1985. I am sure the Deputy understands that the embargo on public service posts applies right through the public service and that is causing some difficulties for the Land Registry.
Would the Minister look at this situation again because this is a commercially viable operation which could yield further revenue to the State if more efficiently run. Therefore he should look at the embargo situation in a more flexible way and make a case to his colleague, the Minister for the Public Service. A special case should be made for all units of the public service which are commercially viable and capable of yielding more revenue to the State.
(Limerick East): I understand that the position is that the Land Registry and those offices of the courts which charge fees and which are run on commercial lines are not intended to make a profit but to be self-financing. I take the point made by the Deputy that there is a special case to be made here and that these areas should be treated differently.
The Minister has agreed there is a very big backlog in dealing with schedules and first registrations. As an exceptional measure, would the Minister consider transferring staff from another area of his Department to deal with the backlog of first registrations because this is creating enormous difficulties for house buyers and first time purchasers? This matter is causing a great deal of concern.
(Limerick East): There is a backlog of, on average, 15 months in dealing with first registration but it cannot be totally attributed to lack of staff. The amount of correspondence causes the delay rather than lack of staff to deal with it.
Would the Minister agree that when the final queries have been dealt with by the solicitors acting on behalf of their client, the first registration could be expected to issue within three months of that date? That would be reasonable. As it stands it often runs to years and some first registrations are not dealt with for 18 months after they have been received in the Land Registry office. Will the Minister seek to relieve the backlog in the Department?
(Limerick East): I appreciate there are difficulties with first registrations. I am examining the situation to see if I can improve it.
As a help to house purchasers, has the Minister considered the question of regionalisation of the service?
(Limerick East): Not at present.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.