Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2013
77. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce legislation to regulate commercial centres that provide activity sports, for example, canoeing, kayaking and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22682/13]
View answerThe Adventure Activities Standards Authority Act, 2001 made provision for the establishment by the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources of an Adventure Activities Standards Authority, which would have responsibility for the regulation of adventure centres. However, the Act was not commenced and the body was not subsequently put in place.
Following detailed consideration of the matter it is now intended that the measures outlined in the Adventure Activities Standards Authority Act, 2001 do not represent the most suitable approach to deal with this issue, and it is proposed that this legislation will be repealed, and this matter be addressed by incorporating provisions in the forthcoming Sports Ireland Bill. The Sports Ireland Bill will merge the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority and it is proposed that the new body, Sports Ireland will be required to maintain a register of all adventure centres. The legislation will make it an offence to operate as an adventure centre if not on the register and allow Sports Ireland to set standards and charges for inclusion on the register.
The Heads of the Sports Ireland Bill are currently receiving consideration within my Department. It is hoped to bring these Heads to Government in the next while, and once the Heads of the Bill have been approved by Government, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications will be invited to consider the matter before the drafting of the Bill itself begins.
