asked the Minister for Justice the length of time now being taken in the Land Registry for the completion of dealings lodged in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Registration of Title.
9.
I assume that by dealings the Deputy means applications for registration of title in respect of property already registered in the Land Registry. I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that the average delay for the completion of this category of applications in the Dublin region of the Land Registry is slightly less than four months at present. There is a wide variety within that average with some applications being finalised in significantly less than four months and some taking considerably longer than that. I am also informed that as a matter of policy the Land Registry give priority to applications in respect of which it is brought to the registry's attention that there are special grounds for urgency — such as bridging finance, for example — in dealing with the applications.
Everything possible is being done to improve the situation but, necessarily, within the general staffing restraints aimed at keeping down public expenditure. As it happens the delays in relation to applications in the Dublin region are, I am informed, somewhat less serious than for the country generally because, since June last year, all transactions for the region are being processed by computer.