Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the membership, objectives and purpose of the expert group recently established by him (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12433/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The expert group in question was set up to address the needs of Kerry in key areas such as job creation, new enterprise development, road access to the county and broadband.

This group is made up of top executives from key Government Departments, including Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Arts, Sport and Tourism and Transport as well as key Government agencies such as IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development and joint chambers of commerce in Kerry.

The setting up of an expert group drawn from key Government Departments and agencies followed on a number of top level meetings between myself and Mr. Micheál Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as well as the Chief Executives of IDA and Enterprise Ireland and Kerry County Manager.

At these meetings issues such as the peripherality of Kerry and the urgent need for enterprise development in the county of Kerry were top of the agenda.

The expert group will address the distinct challenges facing Kerry and the prioritisation of Kerry in the implementation of the national Development Plan

The members of the group are:

Mr. Tom Curran, County Manager (Acting), Kerry County Council (Chairman)

Mr. Ray O'Connor, IDA

Mr. Myles Duffly, IDA

Mr. Brendan Flood, Enterprise Ireland

Mr. Brian Quinlan, Enterprise Ireland

Mr. Kieran Duffy, Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources

Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú, Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism

Mr. Andy Cullen, Department of Transport

Mr. Ogie Moran, Shannon Development

Mr. Michael Carmody, Institute of Technology, Tralee and

Ms Noreen O'Mahony, Kerry County Council

Mr. Jerry O'Grady, Killarney Chamber of Commerce

Mr. James Clifford, Tralee Chamber of Commerce

The Secretarial support for the group is being provided by Kerry County Council.