Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his clarification. It will not escape me or anybody else that a number of planners, including a Monaghan man and a Mr. McQuinn from my own county, are quoted this week in the Irish Farmers' Journaland the farming section of the Irish Independentas saying they believe there is a massive shortage of planners to assist those who are trying to get their applications in. Thousands of people have had to change their applications for various reasons. The planners are concerned that there will be such a surge of online applications between now and 22 May that it could cause the system to collapse. We are aware of Teagasc's position and we know the planners are now saying something similar. It all suggests that the number of applications coming through in advance of the 22 May deadline cannot be realised. I appreciate that a second tranche of applications will be accepted later in the year.

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