Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases referred for arbitration to the property arbitrator for a decision in each of the past ten years to date; the number of cases completed; the number outstanding; the time taken to complete examination of a particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19297/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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108. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the long delays in the property arbitration sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19298/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.

As the Deputy is aware, when the State compulsorily acquires land for public purposes and there is a dispute between the vendor and the purchaser regarding the amount of compensation which should be paid, the vendor may apply to the Land Values Reference Committee (comprising the Chief Justice, the President of the High Court and the President of the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland) for the appointment of a Property Arbitrator to arbitrate on the amount to be paid. Property Arbitrators are appointed under section 2(1) of the Property Values (Arbitration and Appeals) Act, 1960 by the Land Values Reference Committee and all property arbitrations are required by law to be held in public.

Neither my Department nor the Courts Service has any function in relation to the work programme of Property Arbitrators who are appointed by the Land Values Reference Committee.

However, the Courts Service has advised that there is currently one full-time property arbitrator and in addition there are seven temporary part-time arbitrators available to be nominated to act in cases in which the Property Arbitrator is unable to act. The Courts Service is satisfied that this is sufficient to meet the demand for services in this area.

The Courts Service has provided the number of applications for appointment of a Property Arbitrator made to the Land Values Reference Committee since 2008. Please note that the remit of the Land Values Reference Committee is to refer cases to a Property Arbitrator and does not extend to oversight of arbitrations or the length of time such arbitrations may take. Therefore, the Courts Service does not hold the information on the conduct of property arbitrations as requested by the Deputy.

Applications for appointment of a Property Arbitrator for the period 2008 – 2017