LONE parents who want to take family holidays often find that they cannot avail of child reductions for accommodation. Such discounts are often based on two adults paying the full tariff.

While amounting to a small number of inquiries - Budget Travel's charter spokesman Clem Walsh said the company gets only one or two calls a month from lone parents - travel agents here are planning to offer more flexible holiday packages for one parent families.

LSA Travel, a Portlaoise-based company which specialises in holidays to the Channel Islands is, for example, offering lone parents special rates for one adult sharing a family room with his or her children aged under 12. The first child enjoys an 80 per cent discount of the adult rate, the second child goes free and the third child, if applicable, pays half the adult price.

At Budget Travel, family plans are a popular option, says Mr Walsh since standard prices which usually amount to a 50 per cent discount during mid or off-season periods.