Shut office due to staff shortage

In relation to Ms Anne O’Hanlon’s account (Irish Examiner, Apr 12) of her shock and disbelief to find the tourist office in Cork closed for lunch, let me assure her, as a staff member who works in a tourist office from another region, that no office closes for lunch during busy periods, unless for one reason alone, ie a shortage of staff to cover a “staggered lunch” break.

It is with disbelief I conclude that Ms O’Hanlon is not aware of cutbacks and a ban on recruiting staff due to Government/IMF rules and regulations which have a direct effect on staffing in tourist offices nationwide, just like any other department in the public sector.

I do hope that she returned to the office after 2pm, and expressed the views and shock she experienced as she stood aghast at the front door, reading “Closed for Lunch”.

If Ms O’Hanlon did return to express her horror I am certain that she would have seen two or three staff (the most) working in a very demanding and pressurised environment doing the best they can for tourists, and yes, they too, like the rest of us, are taxpayers.

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