Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It applies to all planning applications and it applies both ways. If the planning authority asks for more time, the applicant can give consent. Equally, the applicant can tell the local authority that, if it wants to take more time, he or she does not have an issue with that. In practice, it would apply where the planning authority came back to the applicant saying that it needed more time. Applicants can give such consent, as they can currently do under the existing legislation. It is just to be consistent.