(1) Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4) and to section 13, where an application is submitted to the Agency under section 14, the Agency shall, having regard to the factors referred to in subsection (6), make a recommendation to the Minister for the grant or refusal of an abstraction licence to the applicant and shall give written reasons for a recommendation of refusal.
(2) The Agency may within 14 days of the receipt of an application, request additional information from the applicant for the purpose of considering an application.
(3) Where the Agency makes a request for information under subsection (2), the applicant shall submit that information within 14 days of the request or within a further period of time granted and specified in writing by the Agency.
(4) The Agency shall not unreasonably refuse to give a further time period under subsection (3).
(5) The Agency shall submit a recommendation under subsection (1) to the Minister, within 28 days of the application being made or information requested under subsection (3) being submitted as the case may be.
(6) The factors referred to in subsection (1) are as follows—
(a) the ecology, hydrology and hydrogeology of the area;
(b) the established and projected water demands in the area; and
(c) the current and projected availability of water in the area.