With a budget of €22 million and co-financing from the European Union, the upgrade and expansion of the Department of Lands and Surveys’ Land Information System is moving ahead. The aim is to speed up case handling, develop more online services and gradually reduce the need to visit Land Registry offices in person.
The project is being delivered under the “THALIA 2021–2027” Cohesion Policy Programme. It has been designated a Project of Strategic Importance because it will upgrade a key part of the public administration’s digital infrastructure, which manages land registry and valuation data.
According to an announcement, the new system will replace the Land Registry’s existing technology infrastructure. Built on older technologies, the current system limits the development of new services and links with other information systems.
The DLS Portal is also due to be upgraded, with work expected to finish in the second half of 2027. The changes are intended to pave the way for more online transactions and wider remote services for the public and professionals.
Replacing the existing infrastructure
The upgrade and expansion of the Land Information System aims to create a unified, modern digital environment for the Department of Lands and Surveys’ land registry and valuation functions.
The new system will allow relevant data to be brought together and managed more securely, while automating a significant share of internal processes.
The project also includes transferring existing data to the new information environment. This will help ensure that land registry information continues to be managed through the upgraded infrastructure.
The announcement says the system will support electronic signatures, modern security standards and more effective management of and access to historical data.
It will also offer flexible tools for producing reports and statistics, making it easier to manage and use the information held by the Land Registry.
The system is also expected to connect more effectively with other information systems, public services and organisations.
Fewer manual processes
The announcement notes that the existing Land Information System relies on older technology, limiting its flexibility and its ability to adapt to today’s needs.
The current infrastructure makes it harder to develop new online services and connect the Land Registry with other public sector information systems.
Many existing processes also involve several manual checks. This adds to the time needed to handle cases and increases the complexity of the work.
The move to the new system is therefore intended not only to replace the technology infrastructure, but also to redesign how the work is carried out.
The aim is to create a more flexible, secure and reliable system that can be upgraded more easily and adapted to future operational or legislative changes.
Fewer visits to Land Registry offices
One of the main changes expected from the project concerns how the public access services.
As more online services are developed, the need to visit district Land Registry offices in person is expected to fall gradually.
The DLS Portal upgrade will widen access to online services around the clock, allowing more transactions to be completed remotely.
Over time, this should enable people to complete more procedures without having to visit Department offices.
At the same time, automation, fewer repeated manual checks and faster access to data are expected to speed up the handling of applications and cases.
According to the announcement, these changes are also expected to help reduce the backlog of delayed cases handled by the Land Registry.
What it could mean for the property market
The Land Information System upgrade is also expected to affect processes connected with the property market and wider economic activity.
The announcement describes the project as an upgrade to a key digital infrastructure used to manage land registry and valuation data linked to a broad range of economic and development activities.
More efficient handling of procedures involving property ownership is expected to benefit owners, buyers, investors and businesses dealing with the Land Registry.
Professionals who work regularly with the Department, including lawyers, valuers, architects and engineers, are also expected to gain better online access to services and information.
Reducing manual steps and enabling more procedures to be completed online are key aims of the upgrade for these professional groups.
DLS Portal upgrade due in the second half of 2027
The DLS Portal infrastructure upgrade is a key part of the project. According to the timetable in the announcement, it is expected to be completed in the second half of 2027.
The upgrade will lay the groundwork for more online services and improved existing ones, making it easier to complete transactions remotely over time.
It is also expected to help reduce visits to district Land Registry offices as more services become available online.
Completion of the DLS Portal upgrade is one stage of the wider project. Work on the remaining measures to upgrade and expand the Land Information System will continue alongside it.
According to the announcement, the €22 million project aims to create a more modern, secure and connected Land Registry that meets the needs of the public, professionals and the property market.
Translated and adapted from an article published by StockWatch
