Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Land Registry Office has completed its development of its electronic access service to support access to a broader range of folios and filed map plans; if not, the reason why; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10084/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there has been significant investment in electronic access services in the Land Registry in recent years and that this has made an important contribution to enhanced productivity and customer service.

In particular, as a result of a major programme of computerisation between 2001 and 2004, all folios and maps of individual registered land parcels, known as filed plans, were converted into electronic format and have been available to customers of the Land Registry who use the electronic access service. It is also possible to order official copies of these folios, filed plans and other Land Registry records on-line through the electronic access service, by post or through attendance at the public offices.

I am also informed that contracts to digitise the existing paper map record and to build a new computer system for storing, maintaining and processing the new digital maps were awarded in June 2005. The development, testing and implementation of the new computerised digital mapping system is now nearing completion and the projected activation date is 28 April 2006. At that stage, customers of the Land Registry who subscribe to the office's electronic access service will, for the first time, be able to view the Land Registry maps for the entire country on-line and conduct electronic inspections and associated index inquiries. Access will also be provided for customers who visit the public offices operated by the Land Registry.

I am further informed that this project also includes a programme to digitise each of the registered boundaries of the estimated 2.4 million parcels of land registered in the Land Registry. I understand that this work is already well underway and the first county, County Westmeath, is expected to be completed by 28 April 2006.