Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1101. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures being undertaken to assist trainee pilots and their families affected by the collapse of a college (details supplied); the consideration he has given to the testimony provided by families affected by the collapse of the college at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport on 24 May 2017; if he will engage with those families to resolve the issues affecting them as a result of the collapse of the college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36024/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, the matter that he raises dates from 2012 when the privately-owned company Pilot Training College Waterford failed and left many of its clients stranded in Florida. The company was regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) in accordance with EU civil aviation rules and regulations, but this oversight does not extend to the contractual arrangement between the company and its customers. 

It is a deeply regrettable situation, and I am advised that at the time the IAA took remedial action, insofar as it could, to alleviate the immediate impact on the trainee pilots affected.  For instance, the IAA paid for repatriation flights to bring the stranded trainee pilots back home from Florida - where they were training - and IAA staff travelled to both Waterford and Florida to secure the training records relating of those affected and provided advice on continuation of training with other providers.  Clearly this does not address the financial loss experienced by the trainee pilots from the company reneging on its contractual obligations, but ultimately the resolution of the financial liabilities arising from the company failing remains a legal matter between the company and its clients.