Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the foreshore licensing, we have worked hard to try to make sure the timelines involved for allocating a foreshore licence are reduced, certainly within my own Department. If it is a fishing-related licence, my Department issues the foreshore licence. If it is more maritime and leisure, it is issued by the Department of housing. The challenge is where to draw the line. In some cases, there are small exemptions such as for planning. A garage can be built at the back of a house if it complies with certain terms and conditions. If you do not have a foreshore licence for extending something, then you need that. If we have an efficient and effective system for actually applying for it so it does not take a year or 18 months, then it is not such an issue. We are certainly making significant progress in our own Department towards getting those answers and applications processed much more quickly. However, I take the Deputy's point.

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