Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are restrictions in certain areas. We can only provide licences where it is appropriate to do so and where it stacks up to do so and that does present challenges for people in those areas. However, from the Government's point of view, we have put really strong premiums in place. We are trying to make sure people can get their licences in a timely fashion, which was not the case for two or three years but is now the case again. The commitment from the Department is that within six months, if an appropriate assessment is not required and a new licence application comes in, the farmer will get that licence. If an appropriate assessment is required, within nine months the farmer will get the licence. The premiums are in place, the licensing system has now been righted and the backlog that emerged as a result of the court case in 2019 has been addressed. All of the ingredients are there but obviously it is up to farmers to decide what they want to do with their land. There have never been more opportunities in terms of demand on that land but it is the farmers' choice.