Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My final comment is on timelines for planning developments. Again, I am very familiar with a local one. I refer to a permit, nothing to do with planning as such, for the operation of a waste transfer station and I am involved in the campaign about the inappropriate location. The challenge we have is that there is no extension to the 25 working days for people to respond and make submissions. Especially with Covid, and we have just gone through a lockdown level 5, there is no way to galvanise or engage with the community. I have a huge concern that community groups are literally fighting. We have already gone to the High Court where we fought, under the habitats directive, to protect a piece of ground and challenged Galway County Council. I ask for consideration to be given to extending timelines for planning and permit applications if we engage in more level 5 lockdowns during the year ahead because the county council has not allowed an extension with the current level 5 lockdown. I thank the Minister for his time.