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Departmental Consultations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2024

Tuesday, 1 October 2024

Ceisteanna (278, 279)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

278. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he, his special advisory teams, or senior officials have consulted with, received briefings or sought advice from an external communications expert or communications consultancy company, or a public relations or public affairs company, in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the costs associated with those interactions; the names of those that have been engaged with; the subject matter or topics the engagements related to, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39136/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
Met Éireann, Ireland’s National Meteorological Service and the leading provider of weather information and related services in the State, sits within my Department. The service has consulted with one communications consultancy firm in the timeframe specified. The details of this consultancy are set out in the table below:

Company name

Timeframe

Cost

Subject Matter/Topics

MKC Communications

February 2023 to date

€119,044.52

1. 1. Supporting the development of a communications strategy.

1. 2. Supporting the planning and drafting of press releases and other corporate news, ranging from weather, climate, flood forecasting, research and other (e.g. new Shannon radar, Translate project, Storm Naming, AI Professorship).

1. 3. Spokesperson’s training for interviews preparation and interactions with media, development of key lines.

1. 4. Supporting content creation and advice in that field.

1. 5. Drafting statements and answers to FOIs and customer queries.

1. 6. Support in workshops’ preparation.

1. 7. Other eventual external communication needs.

Aside from Met Éireann, my Department holds no records of engagement in relation to any external communications expert, communications consultancy company, public relations or public affairs company. It is also noted that there has been no Departmental expenditure on same relating to me or my advisers for the period specified.
In the interest of full transparency, I, as a Minister, may avail such services through the Oireachtas Temporary Vouched Expense (TVE) allowance. Further information in this regard may be sought directly from the Oireachtas.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Ceist:

279. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of ongoing issues in relation to the State regarding boundary disputes arising from the digitisation of land maps; and if he plans to implement the recommendations of the 2014 report of the Inter-Professional Task Force on Property Boundaries. [39147/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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.It is understood from Tailte Éireann that under the Land Registry Digital Mapping Project (2005-2010), Land Registry plans and boundaries were transferred from original paper maps to a digital map. This digitisation was carried out in accordance with the guidelines as set out in the Digitisation Protocol Document. All matters relevant to the transfer of mapping data during the Digital Mapping Project are adequately dealt with within the body of Tailte Éireann’s Digitisation Protocol Document. Tailte Éireann, on occasion, receives enquiries about registration mapping issues and each query is investigated fully. There is an established, dedicated and robust process for the ongoing evaluation of such mapping queries. Such enquiries together with supporting documents, should be forwarded by post to Register and Mapping Review Unit, Tailte Éireann, Chancery Street, Dublin 7 or by email to ramruqueries@tailte.ie

Tailte Éireann maintains a title register and the Land Registry map is not, except as provided by legislation, conclusive as to boundaries or extent. This has been the position since the inception of the title registration system in 1891, as provided by section 55 of the Land Registration of Title (Ireland) Act 1891.

The registration mapping framework maintained Tailte Éireann is underpinned by its link to ordnance survey topographical data. However, all registrations effected on the National Land Register are based on the original legally executed documents and related map lodged for registration. Tailte Éireann is aware of the 2014 Report of the Inter-Professional Task Force titled ‘Towards the Registration of Defined Property Boundaries in Ireland’. The recommendations as set out in in Chapter 7 of the Report advocate a move away from the State's long-standing property registration model and are at variance with current registration of title policy and existing legislative provisions. The changes advocated in the Report could add additional costs to the conveyancing process, have the potential to disturb existing titles to registered property and exacerbate the risk of boundary disputes. Moreover, implementation of such changes could increase the exposure of the State to compensation claims.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.

Question No. 280 answered with Question No. 265.
Roinn