Know Your Rights August 2025

Look out, it’s Aer Lingus…

atest press release from the Citizens Information Centre, issued on Monday, August 11th 2025…

Buying Tickets To Live Events

I want to buy a resale concert ticket, but the price is above face value. Is this legal?

It’s illegal to sell tickets for some live events, matches and concerts for more than face value.

The rules on ticket reselling and touting are set out in the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021.

Does this law apply to tickets to all kinds of events?

The law on ticket touting applies to tickets for designated events or events in designated venues.

A designated event is an event that causes significant demand, or where it is in the public interest to ban resale above the original value. A designated venue has a capacity of 1,000 people or more.

You can find a register of designated events and venues on the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment website. The ticket and ads promoting the event should say if the tickets cannot be resold for more than face value.

What do I need to know about buying tickets from private sellers?

When buying tickets from unauthorised sources, like secondary ticket websites or private sellers, you need to remember that you may have fewer legal rights if things go wrong.

When buying tickets from an unauthorised source, be aware that:
⦿ Irish and EU consumer law generally applies to contracts between a trader and consumer, and does not cover consumer-to-consumer deals
⦿ Some venues might only allow admission to the person whose name is on the ticket (the original buyer)
⦿ You might have problems getting a refund if the event is cancelled or postponed, as the money would go back to the original buyer’s card
⦿ If you get fake or duplicated tickets, it can be hard to trace the seller to get what you ordered
⦿ There could be a delay in getting tickets, or you could be told they’re no longer available

When paying for tickets from unauthorised sources, pay securely to avoid being caught by a ticketing scam. Only use websites that allow secure payment facilities, like debit or credit card, or PayPal, and never pay through bank or wire transfer.

You can find out more about buying tickets to live events on our website here.

Package Holiday Cancellations

I just booked a holiday online, how do I know if it is a package holiday?

A package holiday is a holiday sold at a total or inclusive price. It must last for more than 24 hours or include an overnight stay.

Package holidays include at least 2 of the following:
⦿ Transport – like flights, a cruise, or train or coach journeys
⦿ Accommodation
⦿ Other tourist services – like tours, excursions, guides, or tickets for concerts or theme parks
⦿ Car rental

What happens if I need to cancel my package holiday?

You may have to pay a fee if you need to cancel your holiday before travelling. If there are unavoidable or extraordinary circumstances happening at or near your destination that will affect your holiday (for example war or a natural disaster), you may be able to cancel for free.

You can transfer your holiday to another person once you give the travel organiser reasonable written notice (at least 7 days) before the start of the holiday. You and the person you are transferring the holiday to must pay any costs to do the transfer.

What happens if the organiser cancels my package holiday?

If the travel organiser cancels the package holiday or changes a term of the contract, including the
price or type of accommodation, they must offer you either:
⦿ A replacement holiday of the same or better quality
⦿ A lower grade holiday, with a refund of the difference in price
⦿ A full refund within 14 days

The organiser has the right to cancel the package due to factors out of their control. This includes unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, or where they didn’t get the number of people they needed for the package holiday.

What happens if my flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a choice of:
⦿ A refund within 7 days
⦿ Re-routing to your final destination as soon as possible
⦿ Re-routing at a later date that is suitable for you

You may also be entitled to compensation. You should contact your travel organiser to talk through your options for rearranging your flights.

You can find out more about package holidays on our website here.

Part-time Fee Scheme For Certain Undergraduate Courses

I’m starting a part-time course in September. Can I get a student grant?

The Student Grant Scheme is only available to students studying full-time courses. However, you may be able to get financial support under the part-time fee scheme.

The part-time fee scheme is a fee contribution grant for students studying certain part-time undergraduate courses in Ireland.

The scheme is awarded by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), the same body that awards the Student Grant Scheme.

How do I qualify for the part-time fee scheme?

Like the Student Grant Scheme, you must:
⦿ Be studying an approved course
⦿ Be progressing in education
⦿ Not have gone over the maximum time you’re allowed to receive grant support

You must also pass a means test and meet conditions around nationality and residence.

Your course must lead to a major award with a minimum average of 30 credits and a maximum average of 50 credits per academic year.

How much can I get from the part-time fee scheme?
You get a fee contribution based on the number of credits you take during the academic year. SUSI pays the contribution directly to your college, so if your course costs more than what you’re eligible for, you have to pay the difference.

For example, if you’re doing a course worth 16 credits which costs €3,000, SUSI pays your college €2,250 (as this is what you would be eligible for), and you pay the balance of €750.

If your course costs less than the amount you’re eligible for, SUSI pays your college directly and you don’t need to do anything else. You do not receive the balance in this scenario.

How do I apply?
You must create an account in the SUSI student portal to apply. You can read SUSI’s new application form guide for help with creating an account and completing the application form.

You may receive a letter from SUSI asking you to submit documents as part of your application. You should send photocopies (not originals) of your documents to P.O. Box 869, Little Island, Cork.

Applications for the part-time fee scheme are open now. The closing date for SUSI grant applications is usually early November. You can find out more about the part-time fee scheme on our website here.

Cancellations And Delays When Travelling By Ferry Or Cruise Ship

What consumer laws cover travel by ferry or cruise ship?
Companies operating ships must follow EU rules that protect passengers.

These rules cover you if you sail:
⦿ From an EU port
⦿ To an EU port from outside the EU on a service run by an EU transport company
⦿ From an EU port on a pleasure or recreational cruise if accommodation of 2 or more nights is offered, together with other facilities

What happens if my ferry or cruise is cancelled or delayed?
If your departure is delayed or cancelled, you are entitled to all the following.

The transport or terminal company must tell you about the situation within 30 minutes of the time the ship was due to leave.

As soon as they know, they must also tell you:
⦿ What time the ship is now due to leave and arrive
⦿ Alternative connections you can get if you miss a connecting transport service

Re-routing or refund: If your journey is cancelled or delayed by 90 minutes or more, you must be offered either re-routing to your destination at no extra cost or a refund (within 7 days).

Care And Assistance

If your journey is cancelled or delayed by 90 minutes or more, you must be offered the following:
⦿ Free snacks, meals or refreshments in line with the length of the delay
⦿ Accommodation if your sailing involves an overnight stay, for up to 3 nights (max €80 a
night)

Compensation: You can claim 25% of the ticket price if you get to your final destination at least:
⦿ 1 hour late, on a journey of up to 4 hours
⦿ 2 hours late, on a journey of between 4 and 8 hours
⦿ 3 hours late, on a journey of between 8 and 24 hours
⦿ 6 hours late, on a journey of more than 24 hours

If the delay is more than double the times listed above, you can claim 50% of the ticket price. The company must pay this compensation within one month of getting your claim.

Exceptions To Your Entitlements
You are not entitled to assistance or compensation for cancellations or delays where:
⦿ Unsafe weather or extraordinary circumstances caused the delay or cancellation
⦿ You are travelling on an open ticket that does not state the time of departure
⦿ You were told about the delay or cancellation before you bought the ticket
⦿ Your own actions caused the delay or cancellation

Read more about your rights when you travel on a ferry or cruise ship on our website here.

You can find out more about all of the above, and more, right here, or get in touch your local Citizens Information Centre in Bray by calling 0818076780 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).