The Minister has agreed there is a very big backlog in dealing with schedules and first registrations. As an exceptional measure, would the Minister consider transferring staff from another area of his Department to deal with the backlog of first registrations because this is creating enormous difficulties for house buyers and first time purchasers? This matter is causing a great deal of concern.

(Limerick East): There is a backlog of, on average, 15 months in dealing with first registration but it cannot be totally attributed to lack of staff. The amount of correspondence causes the delay rather than lack of staff to deal with it.

Would the Minister agree that when the final queries have been dealt with by the solicitors acting on behalf of their client, the first registration could be expected to issue within three months of that date? That would be reasonable. As it stands it often runs to years and some first registrations are not dealt with for 18 months after they have been received in the Land Registry office. Will the Minister seek to relieve the backlog in the Department?

(Limerick East): I appreciate there are difficulties with first registrations. I am examining the situation to see if I can improve it.