asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, to decentralise the Land Registry, and if he will make a statement on the up-to-date position in this regard.

A detailed study of the question of the possible decentralisation or regionalisation of the Land Registry is being carried out by my Department at present. As there are many factors to be considered it is not possible at this stage to say what the outcome of this study is likely to be.

Can the Minister give an indication to the House as to what direction the study is taking and what centres might be considered for the establishment of new Land Registry offices or the development of existing land registry offices in the event of decentralisation?

At present I am having further studies of the problem made. It is quite a big move and it could be extremely expensive, so I must have all the information possible before I would make any recommendations to the Government.

Could the Minister give any information as to when the study presently being undertaken will be completed?

I cannot, because one of the studies is a cost-benefit analysis and these things take some time. I would not like the Deputy to think that it would be a matter of months because I do not know. I have asked the people carrying on the study to keep with it as a matter of urgency.

(Cavan-Monaghan): In addition to the size of the move and its cost, will the Minister bear in mind the convenience to the public and the fact that procedures would be speeded up? Will the Minister bear that in mind as a serious consideration?

Certainly.

Would I be out of order if I asked whether it will be in Donegal or Limerick?

We might have one in Donegal and one in Limerick.

(Cavan-Monaghan): As the Minister knows, there is a local office in every county.