Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the waiting time for processing land registry dealings on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5537/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Property Registration Authority that the information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table, and was calculated on the following basis.

The total number of dealings on hands in the Property Registration Authority at 31 January, 2007 was 175,790 of which 35,364 were the subject of queries and cannot be proceeded with until a satisfactory reply is received. The number of "live" cases was therefore 140,426.

I can further inform the Deputy that the average waiting time has been calculated by dividing the number of dealings on hand for each county by the average number completed monthly during 2006 for that county. The length of time taken to complete cases varies depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the case, investigation of title requirements, the completeness of the documentation presented, mapping requirements, the volume of business being transacted, the level of resources available at any particular time and the time at which the present computerised system was introduced in the Property Registration Authority for each county. Where a case is urgent and this is brought to the attention of the Property Registration Authority, in accordance with it's customer service policy, the matter is dealt with expeditiously.