I understand 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.
The project involved much more than transferring registered land parcels from a paper map record to a digital map record, particularly having regard to the many factors that contributed to the complexity of the project, such as:
- moving all registrations from the now defunct County Series and Irish Grid map projections to the latest Irish Transverse Mercator map projection;
- variances between the development schemes mapped on the PRA paper-based record and the more accurate ‘as built’ layout presented by Ordnance Survey Ireland;
- transferring registrations from Western seaboard counties, which were predominantly mapped on 1/10560 or 6” Ordnance Survey mapping, which 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.
Prior to the data capture element of the project, the process was validated by eminent international mapping and land administration experts.
Having completed the project, a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the data capture was carried out. This study revealed an error rate of just 0.18 per cent. I understand that it is the PRA’s view that this error rate is well within the acceptable range, given the complexity of the project.
Furthermore, I am assured by the PRA that it has in place robust procedures 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, originate from inaccuracies in the application map lodged for registration. Responsibility for the accuracy of the application map lodged rests with the applicant.
In addition, the PRA digital mapping project resolved many thousands of pre-existing issues and anomalies that existed in the paper-based map system. Being proactive in the adoption of Ordnance Survey Ireland 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.
Finally, registrations that are queried involve the retrieval of 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. Approximately 50 per cent of the cases reviewed by the PRA result in no change to the registration. Notwithstanding this, the PRA makes every effort to review each case in as timely a manner as possible.
