Departmental Investigations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Questions (716)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

716. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support the establishment of an investigation into the events leading up to the collapse of the Waterford Pilot Training College which has resulted in uncertainty and severe hardship for the students and parents involved, in order to ensure that measures can be proposed and implemented where possible to avoid another similar collapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52540/12]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

On 28 September last the High Court ordered the liquidation of the Pilot Training College Waterford (PTC). I fully understand the frustrations of the students and their families who have lost considerable sums of money to this company and while I have great sympathy for their plight, neither the Government, nor the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), have any liability in this regard; the taxpayer cannot be liable for the failures of private sector companies.

Flight training organisations in the EU are approved on the basis of common rules and IAA's approval of PTC as a flight training organisation was in accordance with these rules. Unfortunately PTC is not an isolated example – there have been other similar failures in other European Member States in the recent past, including in the UK, where students also suffered losses.

I understand that a complaint has been made to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in relation to this company and that body is the appropriate body to investigate any potential breaches of company law.