Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputies will be aware, Coiste an Asgard is still in existence. I had a meeting with the coiste a month or two ago at which we explored some of the questions put by Deputy O'Shea. At this point in time, I do intend revisiting decisions that have been made on the future of the programme. This is as much, if not more, for financial reasons than for any other consideration. A sail training programme would not have to be dependent on the acquisition of a ship of the standard of the Asgard. I understand the coiste has been engaged in some discussions with sail training groups with a view to accommodating the people referred to by Deputy O'Shea in a sail training programme. Unfortunately, that does not address the Deputy's difficulty with regard to the event at Waterford. It is highly unlikely that Coiste an Asgard will be in position to have a vessel. On the other hand the Jeanie Johnston is very pretty and I am sure there are people the Deputy could talk to in that regard.

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