Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

In December 2023, an Expert Group was established, under Housing for All to review conveyancing and probate processes in Ireland from a user perspective and recommend changes, implementable quickly and easily, to reduce costs and delays for home-purchasers.

Following publication of the Expert Group’s Report, Government approved the establishment of an Implementation Group on Conveyancing and Probate tasked with beginning the implementation of short-term recommendations, as well as developing a detailed programme to implement the full set of recommendations.

This Group, comprised an independent Chair, along with the following membership:

• D/Taoiseach
• D/Justice
• D/Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
• Tailte Éireann
• Courts Service
• Legal Services Regulatory Authority
• Property Services Regulatory Authority
• Law Society of Ireland
• Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers
• Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland
• Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.

The Group met on eight occasions between 23rd September 2024 and 24th November 2025.

Substantial progress has been achieved towards implementing the short-term recommendations set out. This includes the development of a step-by-step guide/public information pack for prospective buyers (gov.ie), and a Best Practice Charter, setting out principles of best practice for the main professions involved.

Work on implementation of remedial steps to reduce or eliminate key known delays in third-party information provision or certification has been advanced considerably. This includes a revision to the Central Bank’s Consumer Protection Code which contains a new requirement for banks, retail credit firms and credit servicing firms relating to the provision of title deeds within 10 working days.

Options to get more titles registered in the Land Registry more quickly and to expedite the registration of properties/transfer of deeds have also been brought forward. It has been agreed in principle that legislation will be prepared to support increased use of Statements of Truth in the conveyancing process.

A number of items are ongoing, which will bring further progress. This includes the development of Codes of Practice for solicitors and estate agents dealing primarily with the need to advise vendors on a set of information to be collated as early as possible in the conveyancing process.

The Implementation Group has progressed a proposal for a potential eConveyancing system for Ireland, with the drafting of a Handover Pack providing extensive consideration on key issues.

In parallel to conveyancing reforms, the Courts Service has rolled out a reform programme to the probate process, which has seen significant reduction in processing times. The development of an eProbate system, which is expected to be rolled out nationally by the end of March 2026, will further reduce processing times and delays in the probate process.

The Implementation Group will report to Government shortly on progress, along with recommended next steps to further advance the recommendations.