It's claimed Clare's coastal communities are losing out on vital tourism due to uncertain school return times.

This year, most secondary schools nationwide returned in the second last week of August, to accommodate the 166 mandatory school days as the next June Bank Holiday falls as early as possible on the school calendar.

Clare County Council will now write to the Department of Education however requesting that the return date can't be set earlier than September 1st.

Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney says hospitality businesses here rely on the summer holiday trade.