Eoghan Murphy
Question:89. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on proposals to regulate the adventure sports industry and ensure safety in the sector. [40530/13]
View answerTuesday, 1 October 2013
Questions (89, 113)
John O'Mahony
Question:113. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on proposals to regulate the adventure sports industry and ensure safety in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40532/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 113 together.
The 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 considered 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do not represent the most suitable approach to deal with this issue and it is proposed that this legislation will be repealed and the matter will be addressed by incorporating provisions in the forthcoming Sport Ireland Bill. The Sport Ireland Bill will provide for the merger of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority and it is proposed that the new body, Sport 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 allows Sport Ireland to set standards and charges for inclusion on the register.
I hope to bring the Heads of the Sport Ireland Bill to Government in the coming weeks 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.