andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state in relation to the scheme, the details of which are operated by his Department, for the training of candidates for posts as pilots with Aer Lingus, whether the fees of £300 for the first year and a further sum for the following six months were fixed by, or in consultation with, his Department, and, if so, whether any portion of these fees is paid to the Department; if he will state why the fees were fixed at a level which excludes all but the wealthy section of the community; and if he will consider amending the scheme so as to abolish the fees or to have them reduced to such a level as to permit all sections of the community to avail themselves of it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Training of Aer Lingus Pilots.
11.
The scheme for the training of pilots for Aer Lingus is operated by the company and certificates are issued by my Department on the results of examinations held at the end of the training. The cost of training here is higher than in some countries abroad. It is, however, considered desirable that the pilots should be trained in their own country and the Vote for my Department contains provision for reimbursing Aer Lingus the extra cost of having the training carried out at home.
The fees payable by the trainees are in respect of accommodation, food and certain other living expenses. They are fixed by Aer Lingus without consultation with my Department and no portion of the fees is paid to the Department.
The cost of training a pilot to commercial standards is high and I am informed that the contribution by the students of living expenses would be approximately 10 per cent of the cost of training. Aer Lingus awards one scholarship each year and the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association offers a similar scholarship every second year. Trainees who obtain scholarships are not involved in any costs.
Will the Minister tell the House how a gifted young man, with intelligence and education, who happens to be the son of parents with moderate or poor means, can hope to qualify as a pilot under this scheme?
In so far as the scheme has gone, I do not think it is working unfairly, particularly in view of the scholarships available.
Is the Minister serious in suggesting that one scholarship is sufficient in a case like this? Does he consider this is not a question of cherishing some of the population in one way and cherishing another in an inferior manner? How can Aer Lingus reconcile the fact that they are given certain responsibilities by this House to ensure that there is fair play for all candidates with their attitude in this matter?
In some cases Aer Lingus are prepared to make a loan to the candidate who is unable to discharge his expenses during his period of training. It is not the intention of Aer Lingus to set charges at a level that would put this career beyond the reach of any boy who has the necessary education and other qualifications. I have asked Aer Lingus to keep this under review so that if they think the character of candidates who would like to embark on this career is such that scholarship facilities should be made available these would be afforded. I am sure at the moment that the scholarships offered to the kind of person——
That is it—the kind of person. Is the Minister prepared to put to Aer Lingus the suggestion that they recast the scheme so that, when successful, the candidates can make repayment of the fee from their salaries over a number of years, and that they remove this onerous fee of £300 which is excluding quite a number of very talented boys from this career?
Aer Lingus do make loans to people unable to discharge their fees before being appointed as pilots.