Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the turnaround time for the processing of Section 49 applications at the Land Registry; the efforts he is making to minimise this period; if he will expedite the application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53377/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that the matters raised in the question are operational matters for the Property Registration Authority. Under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established on 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.

I am advised by the Authority that applications under Section 49 are based upon adverse possession and such applications are governed by a detailed and relatively complex area of land law and the circumstances of each case dictate the nature and the processing time of each individual application. Any party who may have an interest in the property is notified that a Section 49 application has been lodged. There will routinely be ongoing and detailed correspondence between the Property Registration Authority and other parties. Such applications, of necessity, may take a long time to process and it is therefore not possible to give an average turnaround time for these types of cases. However, every effort is made to ensure that unnecessary delay is avoided.

The Deputy will be aware of the service to T.D.s and Senators which provides information on the current status of applications, such as the subject of this question, which was introduced in May 2006. The service provides a speedier, more efficient and more cost effective alternative to submitting Parliamentary Questions. It is operated by the PRA and is available all year round. I can further inform the Deputy that his query in relation to a specific case has been forwarded to the PRA for attention and direct reply via the above mentioned service.