‘Help tourism by setting September as start of term’

OPENING schools in August instead of September is damaging tourism, a senator has said.

Senator Tim Lombard says the shorter summer holidays mean families have less time to go away before the new academic year starts.

The west Cork-based politician said: ‘When I was growing up, we always had until the first week of September before going back to school, and you’d take your holidays at the end of August.

‘The summer months have traditionally been June, July, August. That’s 12 weeks for the those in tourism to make hay while the sun shines.

‘But, despite the good weather we’re having, people are far too busy with back-to-school [preparations] and the last two weeks of the summer are completely dead.

‘It’s 24C in Kinsale this week and there’s not a single person around. That’s not right.’

He said accommodation providers were feeling the pinch due to the shorter summer break. The Fine Gael senator said: ‘It’s like having their taps turned off overnight.’

He also said: ‘Holiday homes are usually booked on a weekly basis so by encroaching the school year even a few days into August this is affecting holiday home providers and other local businesses for the entire week.

‘With the zero-rated travel tax and the introduction of a special 9% VAT rate, tourism has thrived since Fine Gael came to power.

‘I just want to see a common sense approach taken to decisions that have a knock-on effect on our local industries.’