| IFA Assistant General Secretary Bryan Barry has said that a new simplified system is to be introduced shortly to allow landowners register uncontested rights of way and other easements directly with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), without the need to obtain a Court order. “IFA understands that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter will introduce the necessary amending legislation before the Dail summer recess. The new system, which will be operated by the Property Registration Authority, is expected to be available in the autumn,” Bryan Barry said. “IFA sees this as a positive move by the Government. It follows widespread concerns raised by farmers that the provisions under the Land and Conveyancing (Law Reform) Act 2009, which required landowners to apply to the Circuit Court for an order confirming legal title to existing unregistered rights of way etc before 30 November 2012, were both cumbersome and excessively costly. Farmers were also very worried that the sale of land could be held up if banks refused mortgages because of lack of legal title to rights of way.” “The amending legislation will remove the need to go to Court to obtain legal title and will also extend the period for registering easements to 30 November 2021. Landowners will be able to apply to the PRA for a modest fee, enclosing the appropriate map. The PRA will then notify the owner of the other property concerned and, once the application is not contested, the easement will be registered.” |
Friday, 24 June 2011 14:48