Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if queries have arisen relating to the delineation of boundaries arising from computerisation in land registry; if a particular reason can be identified for such errors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30629/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy 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, made up of approximately 15 million line entities were digitised from 36,000 PRA paper map sheets.

Having completed the digitisation of the PRA map record a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the data capture was carried out by the PRA and this study revealed an error rate of 0.18%. I am advised that it is the PRA’s view that this error rate is well within the acceptable range given the complexity of the project. It should be noted that the Digital Mapping Project was much more than just a matter of transferring the registered land parcels from a paper map record to a digital map record. Factors that contributed to the complexity of the challenges associated with the project included: moving all registrations, from the defunct County Series and Irish Grid map projections to the latest Irish Transverse Mercator map projection; development schemes mapped on the PRA paper based record found to be at variance with the more accurate “As Built” layout presented by Ordnance Survey Ireland; transferring registrations from Western seaboard counties, which were up until the Digital Mapping Project, predominantly mapped on 1/10560 or 6” Ordnance Survey mapping which had not benefited from any revisions for decades; deciphering map data on old paper maps, some of which were 100 years old; and deciphering map data on badly damaged paper maps.

It should be noted that prior to the data capture element of the project the process was validated by eminent International Mapping/Land Administration experts.

I am assured by the PRA that it has in place robust structures 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. It should be noted that the responsibility for the accuracy of the application map lodged rests with the applicant.

There needs to be due recognition given to the fact that 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 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.