Tailte Éireann backlog ‘now out of control’

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has claimed that ongoing delays within Tailte Éireann have reached the point of “systemic failure” and that Offaly remains significantly affected.

Tailte Éireann is Ireland’s national property and land information agency. It was established in March 2023 and brought together three previously separate bodies, the Property Registration Authority (PRA), Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) and the Valuation Office which was responsible for commercial rates valuations.

Deputy Nolan was speaking following her contribution to the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 last Thursday.

The Offaly TD also said that despite the establishment of a dedicated Oireachtas point of contact within Tailte Éireann, the system has proven to be “not fit for purpose, with TDs routinely being asked to instruct constituents to re‑submit information that has already been provided in full through parliamentary representations:

“I have multiple ongoing cases where I have sent Tailte Éireann every relevant folio number, every supporting document, and every detail needed to progress a registration,” said Deputy Nolan.

“Yet the response that comes back is almost always the same: ‘Please ask the constituent to send us the information.’

This is despite the fact that the constituent has already tried, often repeatedly, to engage directly with Tailte Éireann before coming to me.”

Deputy Nolan said this circular process is adding layers of duplication and delay to an already overwhelmed system:

“People often come to their TD because they cannot get a response or any meaningful progress from Tailte Éireann. Sending them back into the same loop is not a service, it is an obstruction. It is deeply disrespectful to families, farmers, solicitors, and businesses who are simply trying to complete a property transfer, a farm succession, or a basic registration.”

Deputy Nolan also highlighted that figures previously provided to her through parliamentary questions showing a dramatic and worsening trend.

Total arrears across all years now exceed 90,000 applications while rejected applications have almost tripled from 33,444 in 2023 to 93,423 in 2025.

“These numbers represent real people, families waiting to close on a home, farmers waiting to transfer land, businesses waiting to complete transactions.

Every delay has a financial and emotional cost,” said Deputy Nolan.

Offaly’s figures also show a system under severe strain. There are currently 786 applications pending from 2025, and already 137 pending for 2026, bringing Offaly’s cumulative backlog to 1,257 cases.

Deputy Nolan said this is having a direct impact on conveyancing, agricultural transfers, housing delivery, and market certainty across the county.