John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)

On my own behalf, it is interesting to see experiences from other counties. Certainly, from reading their introduction pieces last night, and Ms Coad mentioned it, they have been so far advanced for many years. Many counties, such as my own, Cork, are only catching up. We had the Department in before Ms Coad and Mr. Byrne this morning. Maybe Ms Coad would outline how exactly the partnership has advanced in recent times. How can it be a tutor for all the other counties that are trying to catch up? There is quite a will within the Department to do elsewhere what they have put in place in Wicklow for many years. There was mention this morning about the county outdoor recreation officers. Wicklow has that in place already in many cases, or an equivalent, but without funding.

They mentioned that it is down to the local authority and that there was a drive within the local authority to see that there would be goodness in this to bring it forward. Certainly, experiences such as the experience in County Wicklow could benefit many local authorities as they grapple with trying to get that up. Would Ms Coad explain how her great title, outdoor recreation strategy activation officer, can work within the Department's structures and strategy and how it can drive it forward?