Concerns have been expressed about customers being left out of pocket as a result of on-line travel company selfcatering.ie going out of business.
The company has issued a statement saying that "it is with deep regret that after 14 years in business it has ceased trading with immediate effect."
It acknowledged that customers and suppliers will be inconvenienced and may be financially impacted. "We apologise for this unreservedly," the statement read.
It said that it ceasing trading was a last resort and that every effort had been made to prevent the situtaion.
It advised customers to contact the relevent property owners or caretakers directly so that a solution might be arranged.
The company's website now only carries a two line message that reads "Selfcatering is currently unavailable. If you are a customer, please contact your caretaker directly."
A recording of the same message is played to callers who phone the company.
Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley TD has called on Minister for Tourism, Leo Varadkar to intervene and is warning that thousands of the families may lose out on their pre-paid holidays.
Speaking on RTÉ's Liveline, a customer, who was named as Rebecca in Galway, said that she had paid €750 for her holiday to Lahinch in June.
"I rang the company that owns the houses and they said that they have no money received (sic) from selfcatering since June, so our money is still with selfcatering.ie.
"So we have a house available to go to in August but we're going to have to pay more money if we want to go on holidays and we can't afford any more money."
