Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Acting Chairman for selecting this important issue. I wish to raise the plight of the Irish trainee pilots in Florida who are experiencing a great deal of uncertainty about their futures, the qualifications they hoped to gain, the training they paid considerable amounts of money for and whether they will be able to remain in the US for a further few weeks to try to resolve the issue. There is a question of whether their visas will expire. It is expected that some of them will be put out of their accommodation, as its providers have not been paid.

This is a serious matter, but not just for the pilots in Florida. A number of pilots in Ireland who completed their training in Florida might not receive accreditation. It is incumbent on the Minister concerned to answer a number of important questions. What role does the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport play in respect of the Piloting Training College of Ireland, which is based in Waterford? When did the Department become aware that issues existed? They have come to light in the past day or so. How many trainee pilots are in Florida? How many trainee pilots' accreditation will be affected by this situation? Will the Government intervene directly and ensure the people concerned will receive the training for which they have paid? I am not suggesting that a universal scheme be opened, but a limited number of people have paid what is, given the economic crisis, a great deal of money. It is within the Government's capacity to make good on that investment. If necessary, the Government should introduce emergency legislation to deal with this crisis and to ensure the pilots will not be required to pay even more money to complete the course, given that they have already paid for it.

Will the Minister of State tell us if there are any other accredited pilot training centres or schools in Ireland, and if there are, what action the Department is taking to ensure nothing like this happens again?

I accept and understand that there is not, as such, bonding or insurance in place to protect the fees of the students, but has the Government given any consideration to introducing emergency legislation to require a bonding or insurance scheme to be put in place in order that this issue cannot arise again? The problems have been euphemistically described as "trading difficulties" but they are anything but that for the families and students who have scrimped and scraped to try to put together the €85,000 required to complete one of these courses. Many of the people involved have loans at high interest or have borrowed from within and outside their families to take on this course, and they now find themselves with the potential to lose everything.

It is the type of issue that arises from time to time where swift Government action is necessary, and I appeal to the Minister of State to convey to the Minister a desire among most people in the House that the Government would give every possible assistance to ensure the welfare of the students in Florida is taken care of and, if necessary, that the Government would put in place the funds to ensure the students succeed in reaching their final qualification without being required to borrow further.

See this speech in context