Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 5

Written Answers. - Adventure Centres.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

38 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendations of the interdepartmental working group on safety regulations in regard to adventure centres; the further plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation relating to the establishment of a statutory authority to enforce a safety code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20706/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

In June of this year I published the report of the interdepartmental working group which I set up to carry out a review of the safety regulation in adventure-activity centres in Ireland.

The interdepartmental working group made a number of important recommendations. Principally, it found that while the sector in Ireland is generally safe, there may be provision of adventure activities, on a commercial basis, which is not in accordance with accepted safety practices and which may pose an undue risk to participants. The group considered that there is a case for a form of statutory regulation of safety in adventure centre activities in Ireland and recommended the establishment of a new statutory authority to manage the regulatory scheme.

The aim of the new authority should be to encourage high safety standards, particularly in that part of the sector which has not participated in the existing voluntary approval schemes run by the Centre Standards Board of the Association for Adventure Sports and the Irish Sailing Association.

I welcomed the group's recommendations and in July I secured Government approval to establish the new statutory authority.

I have also recently secured Government approval for the establishing of a new marine leisure division within my Department to address safety regulation of marine leisure activity, including adventure centres. Arrangements for the setting up of this new division are being finalised by my Department and work is progressing with a view to introducing the necessary legislation to establish the new statutory authority as early as possible next year.

I am conscious, however, that setting up the new authority and putting in place statutory codes will take some time. It is important that existing voluntary schemes not only continue in operation but are enhanced and extended in the interim. With this in mind I have recently provided a grant of £30,000 for the Centre Standards Board of the AFAS, to maintain and expand its work to provide an effective approval scheme pending the establishment of the new authority.

My Department is working with the AFAS to prepare the ground for the new statutory authority. As part of this process the AFAS will be carrying out a consultation process, including hosting a major seminar for national governing bodies and providers, early next year, with the aim of achieving consensus on the best way forward in Ireland. I encourage all national governing bodies, centres and organisations involved in adventure activities to associate themselves with the interim measures with a view to extending their coverage in advance of the statutory scheme.