John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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503. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when his Department will create a new profession of conveyancer; the timeline for when this will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9147/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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In 2021, the then Minister for Justice asked the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) to prepare and submit a report on the possible creation of a new profession of conveyancer. This request was in line with the provisions of section 34(1)(c) of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.

The ensuing report, including recommendations, was published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 11 April, 2024. The report makes recommendations for reforms to enhance competition and increase efficiencies and transparency in the delivery of conveyancing services to consumers.

The report states that the creation of a new profession of conveyancer would only be viable as part of a wide range of other significant reforms. These include the digitalisation of conveyancing services and the need for increased transparency in the conveyancing sector, including in relation to costs to consumers. The report also points to the need for greater awareness among consumers of conveyancing services, in order to promote more informed decision-making in that regard.

Considerable existing work is progressing across Government to improve the conveyancing process for buyers and sellers. In November 2023, a Working Group on Conveyancing and Probate was established to carry out a review of current conveyancing and probate processes and to identify scope for greater efficiency and streamlining.

The recommendations in the 2024 Report of that Group are being taken forward by the Housing for All Implementation Group on Conveyancing and Probate. The Implementation group agrees with the view expressed by the LSRA in its report that this area should be looked at again when these other reforms have been substantially completed.

However, the group recommends specifically that preparations and measures taken in relation to introducing eConveyancing between now and 2027 should anticipate the need to include conveyancers other than solicitors who, as and when such a profession is established, will need to operate the eConveyancing system on behalf of their clients.