Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
211. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of registration applications submitted to Tailte Éireann for 2024 and 2025 that are still pending; the measures being taken to address these backlogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17690/26]
View answerTailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, property valuation service and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8 of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.
The continued increase in applications received for registration by Tailte Éireann year over year, and challenges in recruitment for some time, have resulted in longer processing times for certain application types, however these delays are alleviating.
As part of Tailte Éireann's resourcing strategy, an accelerated recruitment programme was launched to address the high volume of vacancies and strengthen operational capacities in response to the increasing service demands. As a result, the Registration team within Tailte Éireann are now fully staffed with additional capacity to 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 further reduce application processing times, including implementation of revised procedures for more efficient handling of the large volume of applications that are lodged that do not meet the minimum requirements to proceed to registration and a targeted approach to reduce the age profile of applications pending registration.
Information on the number of applications pending by year of lodgement has been provided below as requested. It is not possible to determine whether any delay in a particular case is, or is not, reasonable without knowing the history of progression of the case and whether the application is in order to proceed to registration.
|
Year of Lodgement |
Total Applications Received in each year |
Applications Pending as of 02/03/26 |
|
2024 |
262,661 |
18,883 |
|
2025 |
296,093 |
50,980 |
Applications for registration which involve a transfer, charge or release of registered lands, where no change to the registry map is required account for approximately 60% of applications. These applications are currently processed within 15 working days where the application is lodged in order.
Applications submitted electronically through eRegistration account for approximately 18% of all applications received and are processed within 10 working days. eDischarges are typically processed within 2 working days.
Processing times for applications which do require a change to the map, and those requiring first registration of property, are improving.
In accordance with Rule 58 of the Land Registration Rules 2012-2021, applications rank for priority of registration in the order in which they are received by Tailte Éireann. Tailte Éireann process applications in date of lodgement order, with the earliest lodged applications awarded priority of processing.
In cases where any delay in registration could have a potential impact, Tailte Éireann make every effort to expedite applications which are in order, where valid grounds exist, and where doing so does not impose a conflict in regard to priority given to any prior lodged dealing.
It may be noted that the Registration of the legal effect of a conveyance comes at the end of the process, after the documents are executed and should, in the vast majority of cases, not lead to any delay in the conveyancing process as the purchaser is already in occupation of the property.
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.
Tailte Éireann has advised me that improvements have been made to date in throughput times and I am confident that they have the resources and procedures in place to further reduce waiting times across all application types.
