Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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246. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he or his Department officials are aware of ongoing issues in relation to the State regarding boundary disputes arising from the digitisation of land maps; and if he plans to implement the recommendations of the 2014 Report Of The Inter-Professional Task Force On Property Boundaries. [5462/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Property Registration Authority (PRA) Digital Mapping Project (2005-2010), Land Registry plans and boundaries were transferred from the paper maps to the digital map. This digitisation was carried out in accordance with the guidelines as set out in the PRA Digitisation Protocol Document. All matters relevant to the transfer of mapping data during the Digital Mapping Project are adequately dealt with within the body of the PRA Digitisation Protocol Document. 

The PRA maintains a title register and the Land Registry map is not, except as provided by legislation, conclusive as to boundaries or extent. This has been the position since the inception of the title registration system in 1891, as provided by section 55 of the Land Registration of Title (Ireland) Act 1891. The registration mapping framework maintained by the PRA is underpinned by its link to OSi topographical data. However, all registrations effected on the National Land Register are based on the original legally executed documents and related map lodged for registration. 

The PRA is aware of the 2014 Report of the Inter-Professional Task Force titled ‘Towards the Registration of Defined Property Boundaries in Ireland’. The recommendations as set out in in Chapter 7 of the Report advocate a move away from the State's long-standing property registration model and are at variance with current registration of title policy and existing legislative provisions. 

The changes advocated in the Report could add additional costs to the conveyancing process, have the potential to disturb existing titles to registered property and exacerbate the risk of boundary disputes. Moreover, implementation of such changes could increase the exposure of the State to compensation claims.

The PRA has established a dedicated and robust process for the ongoing evaluation of mapping queries and each query is investigated fully.  Enquiries, together with supporting documents, should be forwarded by post to Priority Customer Review, Property Registration Authority, Chancery Street, Dublin 7 or by email to QAexternal@prai.ie.