asked the Minister for Communications the amount of money in the statutory fund set up under the Tour Operators Travel Agents Act, 1982; the amounts disbursed from the fund since it was established; the amount in the fund which was established for the same purpose prior to the Act; and his plans to amalgamate the funds.
Written Answers. - Travellers Protection Fund.
70.
The amount of money in the travellers' protection fund, established under the Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act, 1982, as at 30 November 1984 was £938,647. The amount disbursed from the fund up to and including the same date was £51,017. Prior to the introduction of the Act, the Irish Travel Agents Association established a fund for the protection of persons entering into travel contracts with members of the association. I am informed by the association that the amount now in their fund is £1,350,000.
I have proposed to the association that the two funds should be amalgamated. The Association is having the proposal examined by its legal advisers in the light of the terms of the Deed of Trust governing their fund. The association has assured me that the resources of their fund would be available for the protection of customers of its members who failed or were unable to meet their financial or contractual obligations in cases where the relevant bond and statutory fund were inadequate.