Vol. 518 No. 4
144 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the interdepartmental working group on the safety regulation of adventure activity centres has concluded its consultations; the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12108/00]
The interdepartmental working group, to which the Deputy refers, was set up on 26 March 1999 by my predecessor to consider the issue of possible regulation of adventure activities. The group presented its report on 4 June 1999 with a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a statutory authority with responsibility for drawing-up safety guidelines or codes for prescribed providers of adventure centres and for enforcing those guidelines.
In July 1999, the Government accepted in principle that there was a need for a statutory regime to regulate safety in adventure centres, that the development of this regime be progressed by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources and that procedures be put in train to establish a new unit within the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources to deal with marine leisure and tourism, including this issue. My Department is currently working on the proposed legislation, the introduction of which is part of the Government's legislative programme for 2000.
In the interim, a grant of £30,000 was paid to the Association for Adventure Sports – AFAS – in August 1999 to enhance and extend the Centre Standards Board – CSB – scheme of inspection of providers' facilities and to consult with a view to drawing up a blueprint for an inspection scheme which the new statutory authority could base its operations when established. I expect to receive this blueprint after a specially convened conference, being organised as part of the AFAS consultative process to debate this issue, has taken place in Dublin on 4 May 2000.
