Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

With regard to this matter and Deputy Creed's point on processing, the faults may lie with a lack of staff in local offices. Deputy Crawford has outlined a case where the computer system was inactive. I know of a specific case in the local office in my constituency where there is a lack of staff. Responses from the Minister and the Department indicate that people have been recruited to update matters and attempt to catch up with FIS and the farm waste management scheme. These delays will put pressure on finality dates to comply with the terms and conditions of grant aid. Construction cannot take place if approval is not granted. There is planning permission but departmental approval has not been given due to staff constraints in offices and computer problems.

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