Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 March 2026
1001. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of growing delays in Tailte Eireann property registration times and the subsequent risks to the conveyancing process; if he or his officials have raised the matter with Tailte Eireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18516/26]
View answerTailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 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, with significant progress achieved to date in reducing the age profile of applications on hand.
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, organisation wide approach to reduce the age profile of applications pending registration.
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 for registration. These applications are typically 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. Tailte Éireann continues to promote electronic registration services to its customers to improve processing times for all applicants.
Processing times for applications which do require a change to the map, and those requiring first registration of property, are improving due to the impact of resourcing and implemented procedural efficiencies outlined above.
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. In a recently published guide by the Law Society to avoid delays when selling property (www.lawsociety.ie/globalassets/documents/news/2024/speed-up-your-property-sale.pdf), the seller, or their solicitor, should have all of the required deeds and documents in order prior to putting the property on the market to avoid delays.
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.
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.
The information provided by Tailte Éireann below relates to all applications for registration on the National Land Register, including First Registration applications, as requested. Each application may contain a number of property transactions to be registered, for example a transfer of title, a mortgage/charge and a right of way in favour of the applicant may be lodged within one application. As shown in this table, the number of cases being processed by Tailte Éireann is increasing year on year. The number of applications being received is also increasing year on year, but processes that have been put in place are helping to manage this workload and decrease the backlog.
The number of applications processed in each year refers to all applications which have been brought to a final conclusion within the year and includes applications which have been completed, refused, rejected, withdrawn or abandoned as they could not be processed further.
|
- |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Total Applications Lodged |
240,803 |
262,661 |
296,039 |
|
Total Applications Processed |
241,569 |
269,740 |
314,327 |
