Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1176. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to increase resources for Tailte Éireann, specifically the hiring of further staff to ensure timely processing of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45337/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.

In 2023, a request for a planned increase in the pay-bill subhead of Tailte Éireann’s Vote was supported by my Department and subsequently granted in the Estimates for 2024. As part of Tailte Éireann’s resourcing strategy, the Accelerated Recruitment Programme was launched in early 2024 to address the high volume of vacancies and strengthen operational capacity in response to increasing service demands.

The programme introduced standardised recruitment processes across internal, external, and mobility routes to ensure consistent and efficient staffing. Since its launch in February 2024, the resourcing team have focused on filling 147 priority roles. In addition, a further 276 vacancies (including 135 within the Registration function) have been filled across Tailte Éireann through a combination of new hires, promotions, and mobility placements. The remaining 71 active Tailte Éireann vacancies, 11 of which relate to the Registration function, are currently progressing through various stages of the recruitment cycle, with a target to reduce overall vacancy levels across Tailte Éireann to below 3% by Q4 2025.

The continued increase in applications received for registration by Tailte Éireann year over year, and challenges in recruitment for some time now, have resulted in longer processing times for certain application types. Tailte Éireann has responded proactively to these challenges by launching a targeted recruitment campaign for the registration function. This campaign has been highly effective, with a significant number of new staff being on-boarded and currently progressing through initial training. As a result, Tailte Éireann is now operating with increased staffing levels, which will support ongoing improvements in the delivery of registration services and contribute to the timely processing of applications.

Outside of recruitment, every effort is being made by Tailte Éireann to reduce application processing times including implementation of the following efficiency driving measures:

• Revised procedures for more efficient handling of the large volume of applications which are lodged that are not in order to proceed to registration.
• Targeted approach to reduce the age profile of applications pending registration.
• Revised internal processes aimed at reducing the volume of applications on hand which are not in order to proceed.
• An organisation-wide focus on reducing processing times with business process improvements now implemented across the organisation.

In cases where any delay in registration could have a potential impact, Tailte Éireann makes every effort to expedite applications.

Lodging parties may contact Tailte Éireann in relation to a specific case by email at info@tailte.ie. Further information in relation to specific cases may be obtained by Oireachtas members by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of Tailte Éireann at oireachtas@tailte.ie.