1945. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the ongoing industrial relations issues impacting the work of Tailte Eireann. [63721/26]

Tailte 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 industrial relations issues referenced relates to applicable pay scales for grades assimilated from Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) at the foundation of Tailte Éireann.

By way of background, Tailte Éireann is the State agency formed on 1 March 2023 following the merger of Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Property Registration Authority of Ireland, and the Valuation Office. All of the functions previously carried out by the Property Registration Authority, the Valuation Office, and Ordnance Survey Ireland are now being performed by Tailte Éireann.

Public pay policy, which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation (DPER), allows for public servants assimilating into a new organisation to transfer to the equivalent general service grade where doing so is equal to, or more beneficial than, their current terms. Grades of a higher value than the equivalent general service grade can be ring-fenced on a personal to holder basis. This ensures that no staff member is disadvantaged by the redeployment process.

As I understand it, Fórsa balloted for industrial action and recently commenced a work-to-rule, amongst other actions. This issue has prevented recruitment and has given rise to over 30 vacancies remaining unfilled in the Tailte Éireann Surveying function (over 20% of positions). This has had no impact on the other operations of Tailte Éireann, i.e. Valuation and Land Registry services.

I am advised by Tailte Éireann that this has given rise to a backlog of circa 6,000 non-geocoded addressable buildings. This geocoding activity supports the creation and maintenance of Eircodes in the State.

I welcome the agreement of all parties involved to enter into facilitation under the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme to resolve the matter. It is expected that the process will commence shortly.