Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1303. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of pending Tailte Éireann applications for each year up to ten years and more than ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47348/25]

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. 

Tailte Éireann was established on 1 March 2023 under the Tailte Éireann Act 2022. All functions previously vested in the Property Registration Authority, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Commissioner of Valuation and Boundary Surveyor were transferred to Tailte Éireann. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.

In delivering its services, Tailte Éireann engages with a broad range of customers who lodge varied application types, including surveyors, legal professionals, Government Departments, Local Authorities, financial institutions, utilities and private sector businesses, as well as hill walkers, community groups, academics, family historians, genealogists and members of the general public. 

In regard to applications pending in relation to registration of property and not for applications relating to valuations, maps, or archive services, the details provided in tabular form below refer to applications received for registration on the Land Register only for the years requested. 

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. It is understood from Tailte Éireann that where an application is lodged fully in order for registration, the application will be registered without any long delay. 

Applications for registration which involve a transfer, charge or release of registered lands, where no change to the registry map is required, are in the main processed within 15 working days where the application is lodged in order.

eRegistration applications account for approximately 18% of all applications. eDischarges are typically processed within 2 working days, while other eRegistration applications, such as eCharging Orders (under the Nursing Home Support Scheme), eTransfers, and eCharges are generally processed within 10 working days, provided the application is in order.

Processing times for applications which do require a change to the map, and those requiring first registration of property, are improving due to implemented process improvements and targeted recruitment campaigns.  I am confident that as the required complement of staff are successfully on-boarded, Tailte Éireann will be in a position to achieve its goal of reducing waiting times across all registration services.

It is not possible to state whether the delay in a particular case is, or is not, reasonable without knowing the history of progression of the case. Each application is different, and processing times vary as a result. Until such time that the application is in order, and complies with the legislation and the Land Registration Rules 2012 – 2021, it is not possible for Tailte Éireann to proceed to registration and the application may remain pending until the lodging party successfully addresses queries raised.

In cases where any delay in registration could have a potential impact, Tailte Éireann make every effort to expedite applications where valid grounds exist, and where doing so does not impose a conflict in regard to priority given to any prior lodged dealing.