Please ensure that you read the following booking conditions carefully, as they form the contract between the group and Leir Education Limited.

1. The group / Customer(s) Booking

Your booking is made with Leir Education Limited (the Company) at the address of Unit 4, Limerick Lane, Newbridge, Kildare, W12 FK03, Ireland.

You are authorising Leir Education Limited to act as your agent and as such we will arrange for you to enter a contract with the provider (travel provider) of the travel-related service, including among others, airlines, hotels, insurance companies, coach hire companies, transfer companies and various destination management companies.

You are bound by the travel provider’s terms and conditions of booking. We are acting as your agent in arranging your booking and the travel provider is the principal or the agent to the principal. A contract will only exist when we have received the required first deposit amount per student and as such, acknowledged receipt of this, and sent you your confirmation email and booking form. This form needs to be signed by the group leader and returned to us as soon as you receive it. On signing the booking form the group leader accepts the following conditions on behalf of all group members. Once we receive the signed booking form, all aspects of your booking are formalised. Unless we are advised otherwise, the group leader will be our point of contact. The contract terms are to be interpreted under and are subject to the laws of the Republic of Ireland.

2. Deposits/Payment

The full deposit is generally €350 per student and is non-refundable. Full payment is required eight (8) weeks before the departure date. The passport name and date of birth for all passengers travelling will be required when booking. Higher or lower deposits may be required depending on the destination, overall cost of the tour, and airline seat cost. You will be advised of deposit amounts in your quotation.

Deposits are non-refundable (unless the cancellation is covered by insurance). Deposits and staged payments can be paid by direct bank transfer to the account provided on your invoice card payments are also accepted but please note these will incur an additional 2.2% transaction fee.

Full payment is required eight (8) weeks before the departure date. The group leader will receive all invoices applicable to the tour and the final payment date will be indicated. If we do not receive full payment by this date, then we reserve the right to charge applicable cancellation charges as outlined in condition 6. Failure to pay for the tour as agreed in full will put the tour in jeopardy.

3. Passenger names

When making payments it is the Group Leader’s responsibility to ensure that all passenger names and details provided to us at the time of booking are as per passport and they must be in typed format via email. If any changes are to be made once airline seats have been purchased then name change fees will apply, see condition 7(a).
If groups are paying online, then it is the responsibility of the person who enters the student’s information at the time of booking to ensure that the passenger’s name and date of birth are correct.

4. Insurance Cover

Insurance cover is included for every passenger unless you have indicated otherwise. Insurance coverage commences from the moment we receive your deposit. If our travel insurance is not taken, we will require confirmation, in writing that another travel insurance policy will be covering the tour.

5. Price changes

All the Company’s prices are in Euros and all payments must be processed in Euros regardless of any exchange rates which may apply during or after, the time of confirming a booking, the Company cannot be held responsible for any increases due to currency fluctuations or exchange rates. In addition, the Company reserves the right to pass on any increases due to the introduction of any new tax or levy enforced by the Government in the Republic of Ireland and or the destination country this includes any increase in an existing tax or levy or any increase in fuel surcharges which are outside of our control. The Company reserve the right to surcharge for any increases mentioned above at any time up until the final balance due date (8 weeks before departure). The Customer will be entitled to a price reduction corresponding to any decrease in the costs referred to herein which occur after the conclusion of the contract but before the start of the tour.

6. Cancellations
The group leader must advise the Company by email as soon as they receive a cancellation. Cancellation of a booking is effective only once it has been received in writing to the Company from the group leader, any cancellation charges will be calculated from this date. Deposits are non-refundable but can be transferred to a replacement passenger, where an applicable name change fee may apply.

Our cancellation charges are as follows:
• 35 – 50 days before departure – 80% of the tour price.
• 25 or less before departure – 100% of the tour price.

Many reasons for cancellation (other than a disinclination to travel) are covered by insurance cover, please check in advance. If the reason is insurable, a cancellation invoice will be sent to the insurance company and full money will be refunded minus the premium and excess charge. Please note that cancellations could increase the tour price if as a result, it alters the student/teacher ratio.

If for any reason your tour is not viable, as per section 7 of our booking conditions, or the reason is not covered by our insurance policy and we are unable to offer a comparable alternative, then each person will receive a full refund minus €100.00 fee (which is in line with the insurance policy excess)

7. Alterations to the tour

(a) By the Group Leader / Customer(s)

Should the group leader wish to make any changes to their tour then the Company must be notified as soon as possible. Changes can only be made once they have been confirmed by the group leader to the Company in writing. We will endeavour to make the changes if they are practical and at a minimal cost; however, this is dependent on costs imposed by our partners at the time of the change. Please be aware that if there are any changes requested to be made to airline dates/routes or names then substantial costs may be incurred by the airlines. Name change fees are strictly enforced by all airlines and these can vary depending on the airline. A passenger who is cancelling participation on the tour is obliged to pay this fee for their replacement or if it is in error then the passenger/group leader is obliged to pay same. Name changes must be confirmed in writing. If the group leader wishes to add extra passengers to the group, please note that adding others to the group once booked may incur additional fees from the airline and of course, the Company will try their best to facilitate your requirements. Please note that surcharges may apply due to increased airfares etc.

(b) By the Company

While the Company aims to always satisfy your requirements and expectations, occasionally we may have to make alterations to a tour, program or activity due to changing circumstances and we reserve the right to do so at any time. If any changes must be made to a tour, program or activity the Company will advise you as soon as possible and endeavour to ensure that the same standards are met, and a satisfactory alternative is provided. In the unlikely event of the group leader not being satisfied with alternative arrangements that the Company have been obliged to make, then a full refund of all monies will be given, except if the changes are due to circumstances outlined in condition 8.

(c) Changes by airlines

Any change in departure or arrival airport and flight schedule will not entitle you to cancel or change other arrangements. Refund and booking conditions for that airline will prevail. Please note that a change of airport, airline or flight time of less than 4 hours is not deemed a significant change. These may change as improvements are made by the various regulatory bodies.

8. Events beyond the Company’s control

We regret that we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where unforeseeable events, outside the Company’s control, prevent contractual obligations from being carried out. War, threats of war, natural or nuclear disasters, volcano eruptions, ‘force majeure’, closure of airports/ ports, terrorism, political unrest, industrial disputes, adverse weather conditions, technical faults or accidents involving transport, fires and ‘acts of God’ although not limited to, are all classed as events outside of the Company’s control. If any of these unlikely events occur, we may have to cancel or rearrange a tour, program or activity. We cannot guarantee any refunds will be made unless we can obtain refunds from our suppliers and or partners.

8.1. Passport, Visa, ID and document requirements: All Passport, Visa, ID and or any other document requirements are the responsibility of the passenger, if in any doubt contact the Embassy of the destination and with plenty of time before the travel date. The Company will accept no responsibility if any person is refused boarding at any airport or entry to a country because a Passport, Visa, ID and or any other documents were deemed to be insufficient or incorrect.

8.2. COVID-19 Travel Requirements: It is the responsibility of the passenger to ensure that they have the correct documentation, have taken any relevant tests and have completed any applicable forms required before travel. Covid entry requirements for each country are different and ever-changing. The Company will accept no responsibility if you are refused boarding at any airport because you have not followed the correct procedures.

9. Special Requests

Special requests (e.g. dietary requirements) must be made in writing and in advance ideally at the time of booking and on the correct form. The Company shall use reasonable endeavours to fulfil all such requests. No liability shall attach to the Company for failure to comply with a special request and such requests do not form part of this contract.

10. Complaints and or difficulties during the tour

Should the group leader / Customer have any complaints before or during the tour we ask that all reasonable effort be made to contact the Company and without unnecessary delay using the contact details provided to each participant.

If difficulties are experienced during the tour, the emergency numbers as provided must be used to inform the Company of these difficulties and if possible, allow the company sufficient time to rectify the situation. If the group leader is unhappy with a particular aspect of the tour, we ask that they contact our on-the-ground partner using the emergency numbers contained in the provided travel documents e.g. coach company, Leader or Camp Manager.

If any issues are not discussed with our partner either directly or indirectly, then they may be reluctant to help with the complaint when the group / Customer have returned to Ireland, mainly due to them not having had the opportunity to resolve the issue at the time.

If the difficulty encountered cannot be rectified, and you have contacted our partner but still feel unhappy then contact the Company’s emergency number/office number for us to liaise with the partner(s) involved. If the matter is not resolved or cannot be resolved while you are on tour then it must be sent to us in writing no later than 5 days after returning from the tour, the Company will not accept liability for any complaints received outside this period. In the unlikely event that an agreed settlement for a dispute or complaint cannot be reached then we refer you to the special Arbitrations Scheme detailed in condition 11.

11. Arbitration

Any dispute or difference of any kind whatsoever which arises or occurs between any of the parties hereto concerning anything or matter arising under, out of or in connection with the contract and/or the booking connected to this contract shall be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration Rules of the Charted Institute of Arbitrators – Irish Branch.

Full details of this scheme are available on request. Neither the Company nor the group leader has the right of Appeal except the High Court on a point of Law.

Alternatively, claims that fall within the jurisdiction of the District Court small claims procedure per booking form may be pursued through the District Court Small Claims Procedure. All claims above the jurisdiction of the District Court Small Claims Procedure shall be referred to arbitration.

12. Liability

The Company shall not be liable for any damage caused to the group or Customer for failure to perform the contract or the improper performance of the contract where that failure or improper performance is due neither to any fault of the Company, their suppliers or partners providing services on our behalf because

a) the failure which occurs in the performance of the contract is attributable to the Customer or

b) such failure is attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and is unforeseeable or unavoidable or

c) such failures are due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of the Company, its suppliers or its servants or agents who with all due care could not foresee or forestall including circumstances in condition 8 herein.

13. Code of Conduct

a) Behavioural Expectations: Students are expected to behave responsibly and respectfully during the tour. Leir Education Limited reserves the right to send any student who poses a safety or behavioural risk may be sent home at their own expense plus any other expense incurred by Leir Education Limited and or its partners or suppliers.

b) Alcohol and Drugs: The consumption of alcohol and or drugs is strictly prohibited. Violation of this rule will result in immediate dismissal from the tour and may be sent home at their own expense plus any other expense incurred by Leir Education Limited and or its partners or suppliers.

c) All participants must adhere to Leir Education Limited’s and the school’s code of conduct as well as any additional rules as required or set by Leir Education Limited and or the Campus during the tour.

14. Data Protection

The Company is committed to protecting your personal information. Any contact details supplied will only be used for the Company’s administration purposes. On occasion, we will have to provide personal information to our partners, suppliers and or agents to enhance our services. Please note that airlines are required by new laws introduced in the United States and other countries to give border control agencies access to passenger data. Accordingly, any information the Company has regarding any passenger’s travel arrangements may be disclosed to the customs and immigration. Please see our GDPR section on the website for further information.

15. Irish Total Payment Protection (topp) Policy cover

In compliance with The Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act 1995 (Republic of Ireland), an insurance policy has been arranged with Arcus Solutions, to protect the Republic of Ireland prepayments in the unlikely event of our financial failure, and paid in respect of:

• Non-travel packages in Ireland sold to customers in the EU.

for:

• a refund of such prepayments if customers have not yet travelled, or
• making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue if customers have already travelled
• repatriation of customers as may be applicable, subject to the terms of the insurance policy.

In the unlikely event of financial failure please contact the claims helpline on +44 (0) 1702 811397. A copy of the policy is available on request. For further details click HERE