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The Citizens Information Board and its funded services have now moved to the 0818 prefix for all its telephone numbers. The old 0761 numbers are no longer operational.
The national helpline numbers now use the 0818 prefix:
For a listing of all local service numbers, check out citizensinformation.ie or mabs.ie.
The nationwide network of Citizens Information Centres will close on Thursday 23 December 2021 at 1pm and reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2022 at 9am.
The Citizens Information Phone Service will operate reduced hours over Christmas.
| Day | Date | Opening hours | Comment |
| Thursday | 23/12/21 | 9- 8 | Normal hours |
| Friday | 24/12/21 | 9-5 | Reduced hours |
| Saturday | 25/12/21 | Closed | Christmas Day |
| Sunday | 26/12/21 | Closed | St. Stephens Day |
| Monday | 27/12/21 | Closed | |
| Tuesday | 28/12/21 | Closed | |
| Wednesday | 29/12/21 | Closed | |
| Thursday | 30/12/21 | 9-5 | Reduced hours |
| Friday | 31/12/21 | 9 – 5 | Reduced hours |
| Saturday | 1/01/2022 | Closed | New Year’s Day |
| Sunday | 2/01/2022 | Closed | |
| Monday | 3/01/2022 | Closed | |
| Tuesday | 4/01/2022 | 9-8 | Normal hours |
The citizensinformation.ie website will not be updated over this period, except for major Government announcements.
If you need emergency support over the Christmas period, you can contact a range of voluntary services.
| Service | Call | Opening hours | |
| Samaritans If you are in distress or struggling to cope | 116 123 | 24 hours (any time, day or night) | jo@samaritans.ie |
| Pieta House If you are suicidal or engaging in self-harm | 1800 247 247 | 24 hours (any time, day or night) | info@pieta.ie |
| Rape Crisis Centre If you need support with a crisis | 1800 778 888 | 24 hours (any time, day or night) | info@rcc.ie |
| Women’s Aid If you are affected by domestic violence | 1800 341 900 | 24 hours (any time, day or night) | helpline@womensaid.ie |
| Men’s Aid If you are affected by domestic violence | 01 5543811 | Open 9-2 on 24 and 31 December Closed from 25 December to 28 December and 3 January | hello@mensaid.ie |
| Childline Support for everyone up to the age of 18 in Ireland | 1800 666 666 Free Text 50101 | 24 hours (any time, day or night) | |
| 50808 If you are experiencing a crisis and are unable to cope | Text HELLO to 50808 | 24 hours (any time, day or night) | |
The HSE has a full list of online, phone and text mental health services.
Budget 2022 was announced on Tuesday, 12 October 2021. The Budget sets out an overall package of 4.7 billion.
Our Budget 2022 document sets out the main changes in taxation, social welfare, health, housing, education, employment and other areas and the supports available as Ireland recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can view a summary of social welfare changes in the Department of Social Protection’s factsheet which is available to download from on gov.ie.
You can also access a range of information from gov.ie’s Budget 2022 page including:
The Citizens Information Board and its funded services have now moved to the 0818 prefix for all its telephone numbers.
Following a ComReg review and consultation, the number of Non-Geographic Numbers (NGNs) has been reduced from five to two. Only the 1800 Freephone and 0818 Standard Rate NGNs will remain in use. All other numbers will cease to operate from 1 January 2022.
Calls to 0818 will cost the same as to the previous 0761 numbers. Calls to 0818 are included in call bundles or will cost no more than calling a landline.
The national helpline numbers with the new prefix are:
For a listing of all local service numbers, check out citizensinformation.ie or mabs.ie. The details of regional NAS offices can be found at advocacy.ie.
The old 0761 numbers will remain operational in tandem with 0818 until 31 December 2021. However, from 1 January 2022, only the 0818 numbers will connect you to the relevant service.
I have booked my own flight and hotel online. If I have to cancel what will happen to my money?
If you have planned a holiday where you booked the flights and hotel individually, you do not have the same level of protection as with a package holiday.
Your rights to cancel your flight and accommodation will be set out in the terms and conditions of the contract.
Cancelling your flight
If you have to cancel your flight or decide not to fly, you may lose the money you paid if the flight has not been cancelled by the airline or if you have not booked it as part of a package holiday.
If you booked the flight yourself you have no automatic right to re-routing or a refund. However, if you have to cancel because of COVID-19, you should contact the airline. Some airlines may be willing to offer you other alternatives like a voucher or credit note, or allow you to rebook your flight for a later date.
Cancelling your accommodation
Check the terms and conditions carefully to see what your rights about cancellation and refund options. You should contact the booking site if you need to cancel. In general, if you booked with a booking website, your contract is with the hotel and not the booking website. You may need to go to the hotel directly to ask for a refund. If you have a non-refundable hotel booking, it may be difficult to get your money back if you have to cancel.
Travel insurance
If you have taken out travel insurance to cover your holiday, check to see if flight and accommodation cancellations are covered. If you are not sure, contact your travel insurance provider directly to see if you can claim on your policy.
You can read more about travel during COVID-19 and your consumer rights on citizensinformation.ie.
During COVID-19, you can find comprehensive integrated information online at citizensinformation.ie/covid19/ and you can get daily updates on what’s changed on Twitter at @citizensinfo.
You can also get information and advice from:
You can continue to contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.
I want to travel to the EU with my family this summer. How can I get my Digital COVID Certificate?
Ireland has introduced the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel from within the EU and EEA (the EU, plus Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland).
The DCC provides proof that you have been fully vaccinated with one of the EU approved vaccines or you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months or you have received a negative COVID-19 test result immediately before travel.
The Digital COVID Certificate comes as a QR code on your smartphone, by email or in paper format.
If you plan to travel abroad, you should check the testing and quarantining requirements of the country you are travelling to.
There are 4 different types of DCC. If you have been vaccinated in Ireland your DCC will be sent to you automatically.
| Type of DCC | Who is it for? | How do you get it? |
| DCC based on vaccination | Fully vaccinated people who got their vaccination in Ireland | By email (if the HSE has your email address) or by post |
| DCC based on recovery | People who had a recent positive COVID-19 test You can request the DCC 11 days after your positive test You must have had the positive test within the past 6 months | Request it by calling 1800 807 008 or by completing an online form |
| DCC based on negative RT-PCR test | People who get a negative RT-PCR result at a private testing service Test must be taken up to 72 hours before travel | From the private testing facility |
| DCC based on negative antigen test | People who get a negative antigen test at a private testing service* | From the private testing facility. |
*Antigen testing is not accepted for travel to Ireland. You should check ReOpen EU to check if it is accepted in the country you are travelling to.
DCCs based on vaccination are being sent out by email or post. If you don’t get yours in the coming weeks, you can call the free Digital COVID Certificate emergency helpline on 1800 807 008. You can phone +353 76888 5513 from outside Ireland.
You can request the certificate based on recovery from the helpline or by completing an online form. If you submit a form online, you will get your certificate by email within 5 days.
During COVID-19, you can find comprehensive integrated information online at citizensinformation.ie/covid19/ and you can get daily updates on what’s changed on Twitter at @citizensinfo.
You can also get information and advice from:
You can continue to contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.
What has changed in the law on drinking outdoors?
The law on drinking outdoors was recently changed to clarify that pubs and restaurants can serve alcohol to customers who are seated in ‘designated areas’ outside the premises.
Pubs and restaurants have been unable to open for indoor service due to COVID-19 restrictions. Local authorities have permitted outdoor seating in designated outdoor areas, but, previously, it was illegal to serve alcohol in those areas.
There has been no change to the laws about drinking outside in public places that are not ‘designated areas’ of a licensed premises. Drinking outdoors is not prohibited in general, but local authorities have bye-laws that don’t allow drinking in some or all public places.
If you are drinking in public and behaving in a way that could cause worry for safety, the Gardaí can confiscate your alcohol. They can also confiscate alcohol if it is being drunk by a person under 18, or if they have cause to believe that it will be consumed by a person under 18.
It is an offence to consume alcohol bought in a closed container (like a bottle or can) within 100 metres of the off-licence where it was sold. The law does not forbid a pub from delivering drinks to people’s homes, or stop customers from bringing drinks home.
It is also an offence to be so drunk in a public place that you could reasonably be assumed to be a danger to yourself or to anyone around you.
You can also get information and advice from:
You can continue to contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.
I was in hospital recently and I was not happy with my experience there. When I complained to the nurse in charge I wasn’t satisfied with the response. How can I take my complaint further?
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has a complaints system, called Your service your say, that you can use to make a complaint about your experience of a service provided by the HSE or on behalf of the HSE.
If you want to make a complaint about a public hospital to the HSE, you can get support from the Patient Advocacy Service to help you make your complaint.
The Patient Advocacy Service is fully independent of the HSE. It is a free and confidential service that can provide you with information to support you to make a formal complaint about an experience you have had in a public acute hospital.
The Patient Advocacy Service provides support by phone helpline, on 0818 293003, and on its website, patientadvocacyservice.ie. You can also email info@patientadvocacyservice.ie.
The service can explain how to make a formal complaint, including what you should include in your complaint and how to write it.
If there is a delay with the processing of the complaint or if you are not satisfied with the outcome, the Patient Advocacy Service can give you information about your options.
If you have a question about the Patient Advocacy Service, but you are not looking for information or support in relation to the care you have experienced, you can submit a contact form on its website.
Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.
You can also get information and advice from:
You can continue to contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.
Do I need to register for the free cancer screening programmes and when do I become eligible?
The National Cancer Screening Service provides free screening programmes to help find or prevent different types of cancer. If you have any specific concerns or symptoms you should visit your GP (family doctor).
Cancer screening services are continuing during COVID-19.
BowelScreen
BowelScreen is a national screening programme to find signs of bowel cancer at an early stage, where there are no symptoms. The programme provides free bowel screening for men and women aged between 60 and 69 every two years.
If you are aged between 60 and 69 years and haven’t received an invitation for bowel screening, call Freephone 1800 45 45 55 to check if you’re on the register. If you are not on the register, you can add your details over the phone. You can also register for BowelScreen online.
CervicalCheck
CervicalCheck is a national screening programme to prevent cervical cancer. Women and people with a cervix can get a free cervical screening test if they are aged between 25 and 65.
If you are on the CervicalCheck register, you’ll get a letter when your test is due. The letter will invite you to make an appointment with a registered GP, doctor or clinic.
You do not need to wait for a letter to book an appointment if:
You also do not need to be on the register to have a free screening test. If your test is due, you can book a test with a GP or nurse who is registered with CervicalCheck. You can find one in your area by visiting cervicalcheck.ie or by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55.
BreastCheck
BreastCheck is a national screening programme to help find breast cancer at an early stage. The programme offers all women between the ages of 50 and 69 a mammogram (an x-ray of the breast) free of charge every 2 years.
If you have not received an invitation for an appointment, check if you are registered by visiting breastcheck.ie or by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55. If you are not registered, you can register online.
You can also get information and advice from:
You can continue to contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.
I am working from home during COVID-19. Should my employer have a policy on internet and email usage and what activities are they allowed to monitor when I am working from home?
You have a right to privacy in the workplace. However, your right to privacy is balanced against your employer’s rights to run their business and protect their company.
Your employer should give you their policy on email and internet use in the workplace, including the use of social media. This is known as an Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP).
When you work from home (also called remote working), your employer should follow the same rules in relation to monitoring your work. This should include telling you:
Your employer should tell you if they are using employee surveillance software, for example, to track your mouse and keyboard activity, your use of email, social media, files and applications, and so on. This may be contained in a policy provided by the employer.
Monitoring must be necessary, legitimate and proportionate
If your employer wants to monitor your internet use or emails, it must be necessary, legitimate and proportionate.
Necessary: Your employer must be sure that monitoring is necessary. They should consider less intrusive ways of supervising you before deciding on monitoring. For example, blocking websites would be less intrusive – and generally more acceptable – than monitoring your internet search history.
Legitimate: The monitoring should have a legal basis. For example, to make sure employees are not using the internet to download pornography, or to disclose confidential company information to people outside the organisation.
Proportionate: Your employer’s monitoring must be proportionate to the risk of the perceived threat. Proportionality means it must be fair, measured and reasonable in terms of its objectives. Monitoring all of your emails to make sure you are not passing on confidential information about the company would not be proportionate. However, monitoring your emails using an automated system to scan for viruses would probably be considered proportionate.
Read more about surveillance in the workplace.
You can also get information and advice from:
You can continue to contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.
