A PARENTS’ organisation has expressed concern over the number of Leaving Certificate students departing on celebratory holidays prior to the CAO offers, as tour operators mark an increase in bookings.
Thousands of students are expected to depart for the Balearic, Canary and Greek islands this weekend to celebrate their Leaving Cert results.
Tour operator Panorama Holidays said it had seen a 7 per cent increase in bookings for post-Leaving Cert holidays, with August 20th being the preferred travel date for most students.
Ibiza is one of the most popular destinations for Leaving Cert students because of its famous clubs, but other popular choices this year are Zakynthos in Greece, Ayia Napa in Cyprus and Crete, according to the tour operator.
“In fact, Crete almost sold out as far back as January,” a spokeswoman said.
Tony Brazil, managing director of Limerick Travel, said the numbers going on holidays following the results had increased with overall holiday bookings, which were up 15 per cent this year compared to last year.
He said students were spending between €400 and €500 for a week’s holiday to celebrate their results, with destinations such as Greece, Ibiza and Majorca drawing the most students.
“However, some are taking off on little mini-breaks to the Far East depending on how much they earned over the summer,” he said.
Irish-owned operator Sunway Holidays also said bookings for post-results holidays were up “substantially on 2009” adding that there was no availability for the next two weeks.
She said students were generally travelling in groups of up to 30 pupils, and that a group price was normally negotiated by a parent.
Kieran Collins, managing director of Cork-based travel agent Heffernans Travel said students were not spending as much on post-Leaving Cert holidays this year compared to last, with many booking as early as January.
He said the most expensive time was the week after the Leaving Cert results, adding that many students were waiting until the week after CAO offers come out to avail of cheaper celebratory holidays.
The National Parents Council (Post-Primary) expressed concern at the dates students are departing on holidays, as parents were being left to deal with the first round of CAO offers.
Encouraging students not to depart for continental Europe until after college places had been accepted, Rose Tully said “students should be there to accept their CAO offer incase they don’t get their preferred choice”.