Taxpayer to foot €1.2m bill for failed Joe Walsh Tours

A percentage of customer refunds for Joe Walsh Tours, which ceased trading last month, and six other agents will be covered by the state

The Travellers’ Protection Fund, which is about €1.4 million in size at the moment, is expected to be almost totally depleted by the collapse of Joe Walsh Tours and six other travel agents. Picture: Rollingnews.ie

The liquidation of Joe Walsh Tours will leave the Irish taxpayer liable for €1.2 million, the Business Post understands.

The company, which ceased trading last month after 60 years in business, owed more than €5 million in refunds to customers who had placed deposits on package holidays.

An insurance bond will cover €2.4 million of this, while the Total Payment Protection (TOPP) scheme in Britain will cover about €1.4 million owed to customers who had ...