Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a very simple question on planning legislation passed by the previous Government whereby those whose planning permission was about to expire were able to apply to a local authority by way of a very simple mechanism to have it extended for a period of up to five years. Obviously, it was hoped that banks would begin lending and that people would be able to build on those sites in that five-year period, but many have found that they are unable to commence building. If planning permission lapses, the cost of reinstating it is quite large. There is always the issue of whether it will be granted for the same site again. Is there any proposal by the Government to amend the legislation by ministerial order or Act of the Oireachtas to allow for multiple extensions of a five-year planning permission?