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

Typically, in the standard case, it either grants it within the eight weeks or it goes out for further information. This is to provide for a situation whereby there may be cases where additional time is required - a small bit of time - by the local authority to make a decision. The local authority, however, is entitled to make a decision at any time it wishes. As the committee is well aware, you have to give five weeks for submissions, and then the local authority can make a decision at any time within the following three weeks, that is, within the eight-week period. It could technically go out in week six or week seven with an FI or a grant. In this case we are providing for circumstances, and this is the point on which I want to get absolute clarity for the committee, where the local authority deems that it requires additional time - a small bit of time. It is not about further information; it is just about time to make a decision and the applicant consenting to that extra time. I want to have definitive clarity on that because the Deputies raise an important point.