Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his involvement in an inter-departmental committee to examine the future of Spike Island; when this committee was established; the dates on which the committee has met since its establishment; the location at which these meetings were held; the reports which have emerged from this committee; when a final decision is expected from this committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15287/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Following the decision to establish an interdepartmental group to examine options for the future development of Spike Island as a tourism project, the group met for the first time on 21 September 2007 in the offices of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in Dublin. Following that meeting, it was agreed that the various bodies represented on the group would provide a synopsis of their interest, involvement or role in relation to Spike Island, their potential role in developing, supporting or operating the island as a tourism project, and what form, if any, they consider the project might take. The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism subsequently prepared and circulated a comprehensive questionnaire to the relevant Departments and bodies to elicit this information. These contributions will form the basis of a report which the group will then consider for agreement. I expect that the group will soon consider what options arise for the future development of Spike Island as a result of these consultations and deliberations. Any recommendations or conclusions in a report of the group in relation to possible future developments on the site will be for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to consider in the first instance.