Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will justify the increases regarding land fees for persons buying a home in view of the fact that the cost of registering lands has risen by almost 87% in some cases; the way this increase can be justified as the property market is already very distressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53876/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Land Registration (Fees) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 380 of 2012), which came into effect on 1 December 2012, revokes the Land Registration (Fees) Order 1999 and introduces new fees for Land Registry services. The Land Registration (Fees) Order 2012 also introduces new bands for the relevant fees relating to the consideration (value) of transfers on sale and includes details of fees for new services which are now offered by the Property Registration Authority.

Section 21 of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006 provides that I as Minister for Justice and Equality, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, may by Order fix the fees to be charged by the Property Registration Authority for its services. The legislation provides that the fees shall not be fixed at a level calculated to produce an annual amount which is less than that sufficient to discharge the salaries, remuneration and other expenses payable under the Act, i.e. fees are to be set at a level sufficient to meet the full cost associated with Property Registration Authority services. It should be noted that the land registry fees have not been adjusted since 2000, which is a key reason for the need for a significant increase in the level of charges to ensure that the fees cover the cost of PRA services.