Pledge to travel firm's customers

Up to 150 customers of a Dublin travel agency which has ceased to trade will be protected under the company's bonding arrangement…

Up to 150 customers of a Dublin travel agency which has ceased to trade will be protected under the company's bonding arrangement, the Department of Public Enterprise said yesterday. The Department has been informed that Austin Porter Travel Ltd, 63 Phibsborough Road, Phibsboro, was unable to meet its obligations to customers with overseas travel contracts.

Department officials were last night trying to establish how many customers were currently abroad. They would make arrangements to ensure that any who had overseas travel contracts and who may be abroad would be able to complete their holidays, a Department spokeswoman said.

Adequate funding was available under the statutory bonding scheme to ensure that bookings made with the firm on or before yesterday could continue as planned, the Department said.