John Whelan (Labour)

I share Senator Denis O'Donovan's concerns and apprehensions about events at the pilot training school in Waterford and its partner school in Florida. I urge the Leader to invite, at the earliest opportunity, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to intervene in the matter. The State cannot abandon these young students who have each forked out €85,000 for training. These are ordinary working families, including some, from Stradbally and Portlaoise, to whom I have spoken, who borrowed the money to allow their children to train as commercial pilots. They are not wealthy people who can afford the loss of such a sum. As Senator Denis O'Donovan observed, the young people concerned are facing a very distressing situation in Florida, caught between a rock and a hard place. Remaining would be in violation of their visa conditions, which would prohibit them from travelling in the future. It would be absurd for anybody who aspires to be a pilot to take that chance. The bottom line is that the State gave its imprimatur to this school. Moreover, my understanding is that the Department, through Enterprise Ireland, is a stakeholder in the facility which was sanctioned by the Irish Aviation Authority as recently as 2010. Parents and students were entitled to believe it had the backing of the State as a fully funded and reliable operation. The statements released by the college on 3 and 9 July are of no comfort to the students and their families who are being given the run-around. The Minister cannot wash his hands of the matter. I, therefore, urge the Leader to take on board Senator Denis O'Donovan's request. While I am not seeking an Adjournment debate on the matter, I ask the Minister to show a more earnest concern on the issue.