Tailte Éireann officially begins operations

A merger of the Property Registration Authority, Ordnance Survey Ireland, and the Valuation Office has resulted in the creation of a new government body named Tailte Éireann. The body will combine the functions of its constituent parts to provide a property title registration service, a valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure.

The new statutory body will operate under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and will be responsible for the provision of the property registration system, property valuation, and national mapping and surveying. Tailte Éireann will act as the national repository of property information and geospatial data, as well as a leader in the development of land information services. In accordance with the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021, the body has been named in Irish.

Speaking upon the launch of Tailte Éireann, Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD said: “The new agency is the primary national source of property information and geo-spatial data and will be a leader in developing and delivering land-information services. These functions are essential for underpinning the State’s economy in many areas – including property, planning, agriculture, local government, the environment, and construction.”

Having begun operations in mid-March 2023, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD announced Tailte Éireann’s first board one week later. David McGarry, a member of the Institute of Directors and Chartered Accountants Ireland, previously of Bus Éireann and Indaver, has been selected as prospective chair, while director of the Irish League of Credit Unions and National Treatment Purchase Fund board member Martin Sisk, practicing solicitor Rowena Mulcahy, former Director General of the Law Society of Ireland Mary Keane, Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland Chief Executive Shirley Coulter, HSE General Manager Deirdre O’Keeffe, and professor of law and UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of people with disabilities Gerard Quinn have been appointed as ordinary members of the board. Former CEO for the Property Registration Authority Liz Pope has been named as Acting CEO.

Upon the appointments, O’Brien said: “The expertise of the appointed board members and the prospective chair will provide vital input to the strategic oversight of Tailte Éireann. As well as having collective responsible for the long-term sustainability of the body, these non-executive board members will bring an independent judgement to bear on issues of performance, resources, key appointments, and standards of conduct.”

He added: “They will play an essential role in guiding and advising the Chief Executive in relation to the performance by Tailte Éireann of its functions.”

Regarding McGarry’s selection as prospective chair, O’Brien said: “David has significant experience in strategic development, change management, transformation, business planning and analysis, financial management, digitisation, and governance.

“He will lead the provision of valuable support by the board to the management team of Tailte Éireann as they look to integrate and exploit synergies between the various divisions of the new organisation, through the use of technology and better data management opportunities across the functional areas.”