The National Advocacy Service (NAS) provides an independent, confidential and free, representative advocacy service. NAS has a particular remit for people with disabilities who are isolated from their community and services, have communication differences, are inappropriately accommodated, live in residential services, attend day services and have limited informal or natural supports.
For more information, you can access the NAS website at the following link: National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities
Email: info@advocacy.ie
Phone: 0761 07 3000
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is an independent statutory body dealing with public complaints against An Garda Síochána.
If you are directly affected by what you believe is misconduct of a member of the Garda Síochána, you can complain to the Garda Ombudsman. You can also make a complaint if you are a witness to such behaviour. In many circumstances, you can complain on someone’s behalf, if you have their consent. For more information, you may wish to access the following link: Make a complaint.
The Ombudsman for Children may investigate a complaint made by a child, a family member, or a professional, who has dealings with the child. The bodies that may be investigated by the Ombudsman for Children include Government Departments, the HSE, schools, and public hospitals.
Age Action supports and advocates for equality and human rights for older people in Ireland.
The National Disability Authority (NDA) is the independent statutory body that provides information and advice to the Government on policy and practice relevant to the lives of persons with disabilities.
DFI’s vision is an Ireland where people with disabilities and disabling conditions are fully included and enabled to reach their full potential.
Phone: (01) 454 7978
Sage Advocacy is a support and advocacy service for vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients,
Inclusion Ireland champions the rights of people with an intellectual disability in Ireland through securing the full implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Independent Living Movement aims to ensure that disabled people achieve Independent Living Choice and control over their lives and full Participation in society as equal citizens.
Community Law & Mediation is a community law centre which provides free legal advice, advocacy and mediation and education services.
Phone: (01) 847 7804
The Pensions Authority regulates occupational pension schemes; trust RACs and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs). Please note that the Pensions Authority do not deal with the state pensions.
The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means. Legal advice is any oral or written advice given by a solicitor or barrister, including writing letters and negotiations. Legal aid is representation by a solicitor or barrister in court proceedings. The Legal Aid Board has a number of centers across the country, and the best way to find the one most convenient to you is to contact the Legal Aid Board directly.
Crosscare Migrant Project is a Dublin based NGO providing information and advocacy support to Irish emigrants
and people who have moved to Ireland.
Email: migrantproject@crosscare.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 873 2844
The Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) provide confidential, basic legal advice for free and in person across all areas of law. FLAC offers a network of advice clinics around Ireland and you may be able to identify the most suitable one at the following link: Legal Advice Clinic.
Phone: Lo-Call: 1890 350 250
Web: https://www.flac.ie/
Citizens Information Centres (CICs) provide free, impartial information, advice and advocacy from more than 215 locations around the country.
Phone: 0761 07 4000
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner was established to protect individuals’ right to privacy by enabling people to exercise control over how their personal information is used, in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. If a person or organisation holds personal information about you on computer or on paper file, you may ask them if they hold such information and to give you access to it. Section 3 of the Data Protection Acts provides that you have a right to find out and/or be given a description free of charge, of information held about you. Section 4 of the Data Protection Acts says that you have a right to obtain a copy of such information.
The Environmental Protection Agency is the statutory agency charged with protecting the environment and enforcing environmental legislation.
The Health Information and Quality Authority is an independent authority established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using our health and social care services in Ireland.
HIQA’s mandate to date extends across a specified range of public, private and voluntary sector services. Reporting to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, HIQA’s role is to develop standards, inspect and review health and social care services and support informed decisions on how services are delivered.
Email: info@hiqa.ie
Web: https://www.hiqa.ie/
The principal functions of the Mental Health Commission, as specified in the Mental Health Act 2001, are to promote, encourage and foster the establishment and maintenance of high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services. The Mental Health Commission also deals with the protection of the rights of persons resident in psychiatric facilities (approved centres).
The Office of the Ombudsman examines complaints about the administrative actions of Government Departments; the Health Service Executive; local authorities and various other State agencies. Complaints can be made in relation to a wide range of issues, such as entitlement to public services, taxation, housing, education and social welfare.
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) is Ireland’s independent state body which assesses personal injury compensation.
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board aim is to facilitate a fair and transparent personal injuries assessment process in which claims are resolved at a low delivery cost and in a timely and non-adversarial manner and to engage with all parties and stakeholders in the claims resolution process in a straight-forward and efficient way.
Email: enquiries@injuriesboard.ie
Phone: 1890 829 121
The Social Welfare Appeals Office operates independently of the Department of Social Protection. It aims to provide an independent, accessible and fair appeals service with regard to entitlement to social welfare payments and to deliver that service in a prompt and courteous manner.
The main role of the Social Welfare Appeals Office is to provide a fair and independent appeals procedure where a person is dissatisfied with a decision given under the Social Welfare Acts by a Deciding Officer or a Designated Person about their entitlement to social welfare payments or the insurability of their employment.
The Standards in Public Office Commission is an independent body established in December 2001 by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. It has six members and is chaired by a former Judge of the High Court. It has supervisory roles under four separate pieces of legislation. Its functions include supervising the disclosure of interests and compliance with tax clearance requirements, the disclosure of donations and election expenditure, the expenditure of state funding received by political parties and the registration of lobbying.
A full list of Legislation under which the Standards Commission has a supervisory role are available at the following link: Legislation. The Standards in Public Office Act 2001 provides for the introduction of Codes of Conduct for Office Holders, TDs, Senators, Civil Servants, and the wider Public Service. More information can be accessed at the following link: Codes of Conduct.
Email: sipo@sipo.ie or complaints@sipo.ie
Phone: +353-1-639 5666
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s role is to promote a caring society through ensuring access to income support and other services, enabling active participation, promoting social inclusion and supporting families.
Please find below a list of contact numbers for services:
– DSP Income Support Helpline for people impacted by COVID-19. Tel: 1890 800 024
– Information Services – Tel: 1890 66 22 44
– Free Travel, Household Benefits, State Pension, Domiciliary Care, Widow(er)s Pension, Widowed Parent Grant, Blind Persons Pension – Tel: 1890 500 000
– Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Disability Allowance, Disablement Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Bereavement Grant – Tel: 1890 927 770
– Supplementary Welfare Allowance – Tel: 071 9157100
– Homemakers – Tel: 1890 690 690
– Respite Care Grant – Tel: 01 6732222
– Illness Benefit, Injury Benefit, Medical Care – Tel: 1890 928 400
The Office of the Information Commissioner investigates complaints of compliance with the FOI Acts and also provides information to the public in relation to the Acts. In general terms, under the FOI Act a requester makes a request for records (electronic or paper documents) and the public body must issue a decision on that request within four weeks. The Public Body may decide to release all of the information requested, to release part of it, or to refuse all of it. A requester may appeal the decision to the public body (within 4 weeks). The public body must carry out a review and issue a further decision. In the event the requester is still not satisfied they can appeal to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
For further guidance on how the Office of the Information Commissioner interpret and apply the Freedom of Information Act, you may wish to access the following link: Guidance Notes.
The Medical Council regulates medical doctors in the Republic of Ireland. The Council’s purpose is to protect the public by promoting and better ensuring high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among doctors. The Medical Council handles complaints relating to a doctor’s fitness to practice medicine.
Phone: +353 1 4983100
Web: https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Public-Information/Making-a-Complaint-/Making-a-Complaint.html
Fax: +353 1 4983102
The Child and Family Agency is the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. The Agency operates under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, a progressive piece of legislation with children at its heart and families viewed as the foundation of a strong healthy community where children can flourish. Partnership and co-operation in the delivery of seamless services to children and families are also central to the Act.
Information and Customer Services (ICS), formerly known as Workplace Relations Customer Services, is responsible for the provision of information relating to employment rights, equality and industrial relations matters by means of a telephone call-in service manned by experienced Information Officers
Phone: 059 9178990 | Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90 * (09.30 - 17.00, Monday to Friday)
Web: https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/contact_us/contact-details/