Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

It is certainly an issue that must be addressed.

Senator Denis O'Donovan and other speakers referred to the problems at PTC Waterford. As Senator O'Donovan mentioned, I have suggested that he raise this issue as an Adjournment debate matter. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to have the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport come to the House for a debate. In the meantime, I propose that an Adjournment debate would allow for the specific facts of the case to be addressed. I appreciate Members' genuine concerns on this matter, which I have already raised with the Minister.

The Irish Aviation Authority has responsibility for approving and overseeing flight training organisations in the State, of which the pilot training centre in Waterford is one. The company operating that facility also has a training college in Florida. The facility in Waterford is experiencing certain difficulties in regard to the fulfilment of its obligations to students. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has advised me that the Irish Aviation Authority, which comes under his remit, is treating the matter very seriously and is keeping him updated on developments as the situation evolves. The Minister has reached agreement with the authority that it will fund the flight costs of those self-financing students in Florida who have an existing contract with the pilot training college and wish to leave the United States. The authority has also assured the Minister that all flight and ground training carried out to date in Florida will be credited towards the students' final qualifications. The aviation authority has had a representative in Florida for several days to offer assistance to students, approximately 80 of whom are Irish, on a one-to-one basis. That representative has now returned to Ireland and the authority is sending a replacement to Florida.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is in regular contact with the authority and is monitoring developments closely. The authority has assured the Minister that it is making every effort to ensure the situation is resolved satisfactorily. It is working with the pilot training college in Waterford and other training centres to explore how students might be facilitated in completing their training elsewhere, either in Florida or Ireland. That is the most up-to-date information from the Department. I do not know whether the Minister could add anything further if he were to come to the House. However, I do not propose to-----