8.—(1) Where an application has been duly made, the Department may request further information or evidence from the applicant to enable that application to be determined and any such information or evidence requested shall be provided within one month of the date of notification of the request or such longer period as the Department is satisfied is reasonable in the circumstances of the case.
(2) Where any information or evidence requested in accordance with paragraph (1) is not provided in accordance with the time limit specified in that paragraph, the Department may, where it is able to do so, proceed to determine the application in the absence of the requested information or evidence.