Next month will see the General Registry get restructured as the government says it needs to improve the efficiency of the service.

No jobs will go, but a better use of space and IT systems are expected to generate savings.

The Department of Economic Development will deal with Transfer of Land, Deeds, and Civil registries, Charities register and the Public Record Office will merge with the Companies Registry to form a new Central Registry.

Other changes from 1st April involve Legal Aid administration moving to the Social Security Division of the Treasury.

New Policy and Reform Minister John Shimmin MHK said the restructuring of the General Registry was needed to bring costs savings and improvements in providing essential registry services to the public and business community.