Local Monaghan councillor pleads with Government to open toy shops

Cllr. Paudge Connolly says parents in counties bordering the North are now travelling across the border to access toy shops there – as the pre-Christmas shopping spree begins.

“The car parks at retail parks across the border are crammed with southern reg cars belonging to people going north to do their Christmas shopping,” he said.

“People don’t know when the lockdown in the south will actually end and they are not leaving their Christmas shopping to chance.

“The call I am making today is for the Government to assign essential retailer status to the toy shops at this critical time of year for these businesses.

“We also have to consider the fact that when the toy shops reopen, if they reopen on December 1 st, they are going to be mobbed with under pressure parents.

“They should be reopened now and given guidance on how best to make them Covid-19 safe to avoid an inevitable bottle-neck in December.

“Many parents are already either going North or are going online and I honestly feel it is unnecessary.

Ireland’s largest toy retailer Smyths has closed its doors but is still operating its home delivery and ‘click and collect’ services.

In a post on their website they said "Home Delivery and Click & Collect services will be available throughout the lockdown period.

"There may be short periods where these services are not available while we process large order volumes."

"We will hold your order for two days. If you can't collect, you can have someone else collect on your behalf once they have your permission.

"At all times, photo ID (of the person who placed the order) and the Ready for Collection email is required to collect your order.