Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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1063. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a backlog in registrations in the Land Registry; the remote working arrangements if such a delay is holding up the sale of a property; if there is a system of expediting a particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7822/20]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Property Registration Authority (PRA) is upscaling its operations in line with Covid-19 recovery planning. As part of a phased approach to business continuity, the PRA is implementing a graduated increase in the level of applications processed for registration. New work practices and projects are being successfully incorporated into this phased upscaling.

The gradual upscaling of services continues to be reviewed by the PRA in line with Covid-19 recovery planning, public health guidance and the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. This will allow the PRA to continue to scale up its operations, carry out its statutory functions and ensure that a safe working environment is in place for its employees and members of the public in all its buildings in Dublin, Waterford and Roscommon. At the same time, in line with the national approach, remote working arrangements will continue in place to ensure that safe physical distancing can be maintained.

The number of transactions on hand in the PRA increased from 102,805 at the end of February 2020 to 113,866 at the end of April 2020. It is anticipated that the upscaling of operations and a steady decrease in the intake of applications now being experienced will see the level of cases on hand decreasing again. Applications are being dealt with in order of priority. However, urgent applications are being processed expeditiously, as requested, on a case by case basis.

Copy Folios/Maps and Copy Instruments are being issued. Customers can apply for copies in the normal way through the landdirect portal. Landdirect, eRegistration services and registration of deeds services continue to operate as normal.

Arrangements have been put in place by all State bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to any specific case may be obtained by contacting the specific e-mail address in respect of the PRA, reps@prai.ie.