A Kerry County councillor is proposing that St Patrick's Day be moved to a Sunday each year.

Councillor Johnny Healy-Rae says this would mean the following day, Monday, would be a bank holiday. He told Radio Kerry that this additional bank holiday weekend would boost tourism and the economy.

The move would require a decision by the Minister for Justice to set the public holiday to a Sunday.

Mr Healy-Rae said he will raise the issue at the next local authority meeting

“If St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Friday or a Saturday or a Sunday or a Monday, at least the people that would be away to come home would get the weekend out of it.

“From an economic point of view, hotels and b&bs and restaurants and bars would get a lift at a time of the year that it would be badly needed,” he said.