Michael TreacyProperty Registration Authority Ireland

michael.treacy@prai.ie

Transparency and Access to Information

The Property Registration Authority

• Responsible for approving/registering all legal transactions affecting property in Ireland

• Two systems of registration●Registry of Deeds - “unregistered title” –

12%●Land Registry – “title registration” – 88%

• Value of property registered – €1 trillion

• Value of mortgages registered - €150 billion

Land Registration in Ireland

Land Registry established in 1892 Public Register Registration carries State Guarantee Compulsory 1st registration in 24 out of

26 counties (regions) One of largest databases in Ireland:

1.9 million individual legal titles 2.5 million registered land parcels

Registered Title coverage

● ≥ 88% of legal titles registered nationally

● 7 counties ≥ 99%● 8 counties ≥ 98% ● 9 counties ≥ 96% ● Cork ≥ 86%● Dublin ≥

59%

Access to Information

Access to records for professional customers/public in central Land Registry office

Access to copy of the Register in 25 regional locations

Total reliance on paper record

The way it was

8 million pages of Title Records (paper)

5,000 documents per day retrieved 2 million index records held in 4,000 volumes 36,000 A0-size map sheets

2 million pages of Map Records

The Paper Chase

Before After

Problems accessing information

Record/document already in use Delays in retrieving paper files - misfiled or lost Record damaged e.g. age, usage, flood or fire Duplicate local records not up to date Maps not available in Regional Offices Only local information available Delays of 2 weeks to 6 months in issuing official

copy documents

Key Strategic Objectives for PRA

• Improve the quality of service to customers• Focus on projects to:

Decrease the reliance on paper records Improve production/turnaround times on

services Increase the quantity/quality of information

provided for customers on-line Implement Business Continuity/Disaster

Recovery arrangements Secure irreplaceable records

How the Transformation Happened

Integrated Title Registration Information System (ITRIS) - 1999 to 2002

Online service – 1999 – now www.landdirect.ie

Imaged of 8 million pages of paper records - 2002 to 2004

Digitised 2.5 million land parcel boundaries from paper – 2005 to 2010

Converted more than 800,000 remaining imaged records, (more than 3m. Pages), to structured digitised format – 2007 to 2009

Automated process for issuing copy documents

landdirect.ie Online service operational since 1999

Re-branded in April 2006

Use our property index to find an address and locate a title record Search and locate property using our online digital map View & print title records and ‘filed plan’ maps Obtain details of pending and completed applications Conduct names index searches Request official certified copy folios and filed plans Order official copies of Instruments Track progress of applications during lifecycle Submit applications for registration on-line (e-lodgement)

First electronic registration service ‘eDischarges’ March 2009

Growth of online services

Year 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

No. of professional users

1,700 9,200 10,900 12,741 13,872 14,636

No. of online business transactions

0.2 million

1.7 million

2.2 million 2.3 million 2.5 million

2.6 million

Range of Users

600 Internal PRA Users

14,600 registered landdirect.ie users

Pan-European access through European Land Information Service (EULIS)

BanksBanks

Law SearchersLaw Searchers

SolicitorsSolicitors

HSEHSE

ArchitectsArchitects

CABCAB

Social WelfareSocial Welfare

RevenueRevenue

JournalistsJournalistsGenealogistsGenealogists AcademicsAcademics

EngineersEngineers

Auctioneers etc.Auctioneers etc.

Garda SiochanaGarda Siochana

RPARPA

Land SurveyorsLand Surveyors

Building SocietiesBuilding Societies

NRANRA

UtilitiesUtilitiesLocal AuthoritiesLocal Authorities

landdirect.ielanddirect.ie

3 Million Online transactions per year – Top 20 Users

Making it Happen Internal

Staff Briefings, Training, Coaching, Mentoring Re-deployment to more rewarding and added value tasks Training Manuals, Practice Directions Identifying ‘Change Champions’ Project Boards Project Teams

External Customer ‘Outreach’ Programme Roadshows, Seminars, Mailshots, eZines, one-to-one site visits Marketing, Advertising, Trade & National Press

Funding Extensive Capital Investment over 10 years

Intangible Benefits of an Accessible and Transparent Register

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction Opportunities to promote greater organisational

flexibility and improve work processes Improved work environment Improved perception of organisation among

stakeholders Better understanding of customer needs and

expectations Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery

addressed Value & Relevance of organisation increased

External Validation 2005: Overall Winner – Irish eGovernment Awards

2006: Association for Geographic Information - Award for Innovation and Best Practice

2007: Best Project in “Government to Business” category at Inside Government Awards

2007: Finalist at European eGovernment Awards

2007: Winner BT “Inspired” Award

2007: Awarded EU “Good Practice Label”

2010: Best Project in ‘State Body’ category – Irish eGovernment Awards