Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Transport the discussions he has had with the aviation regulator regarding the Travellers' Protection Fund; if additional funding has been requested for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26683/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The existing Travellers Protection Fund, managed by the Department of Finance, was built-up by means of a levy on tour operators between 1980 and 1983. The Commission for Aviation Regulation is responsible for the administration of the Travellers Protection Fund. The fund is used where the bonds provided by tour operators and travel agents fail to cover the full costs of repatriations, refunds to customers and administration costs of the Commission in the processing of claims.

At the end of 2009, the value of net assets contained in the draft Traveller Protection Fund accounts was €5.7m compared to €6.5m at the end of 2008. While this is a notable decrease in the level of the fund, the fund remains in a considerably healthy state. Officials from my Department, the Department of Finance and the Commission are engaged in discussions to explore what arrangements may be put in place to address the issue of insufficient funds being available in the Traveller Protection Fund should such an unlikely situation arise in the future.