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COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit, which was due to finish at the end of June, has been extended to September 2022.

The amount of money you can earn during term-time before it affects your student grant will increase from €4500 per academic year to €6552 for 2022/2023.

A number of additional state subsidies and grants are now disregarded for the purpose of Farm Assist.

Taxi prices will increase by an average of 12% from September. Also from September, all taxis must provide cashless facilities.

In-person citizenship ceremonies have recommenced.

The Government announced that local authorities will have greater flexibility to go above the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rent limits under proposed changes.

A new Green Transition Fund for businesses has been launched.

Hire Purchase agreements are now covered by the Consumer Protection Code, and providers must be authorised by the Central Bank.

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Tenancies of unlimited duration are now in place for new tenancies starting after 10 June 2022. .

The re-entry visa requirement for children aged under 16 travelling to and from Ireland has been suspended.

The Ukraine Support Centre in Cork can now  issue Temporary Protection letters for people coming to Ireland from Ukraine. International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has also announced that applicants will not get any more offers of accommodation after 2 offers have been refused.

There will be a further reduction to the PSO Levy that will result in an ‘indicative’ annual saving of €75 on a typical household electricity bill. As the government had already announced a levy reduction of €52, this means household electricity bills will have a total ‘indicative’ annual saving of €127, beginning in October 2022. (Estimated savings excluding VAT.)

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We added a new page on the Additional Needs Payment, part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. The payment can help people on a low income with expenses that they cannot afford. It includes the Exceptional Needs and Urgent Needs Payments.

The application form for Partial Capacity Benefit[ is now available to download from gov.ie.

The weekly income limit from employment and self-employment for Carer’s Benefit increased from €332.50 to €350.

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The COVID-19 Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme closed on 31 May 2022.

‘Passport Express’ has changed its name to ‘Post Passport’. Read about:

Springboard+ courses opened for applications on 25 May 2022.

There are delays in processing Irish Residence Permits in Dublin.

From 28 May 2022, people who have an illness such as cancer or alopecia can get up to €500 per year for a hair replacement item through the Treatment Benefit Scheme.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid from 13 July 2022.

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Citizens Information and MABS phone numbers

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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:

  • The Citizens Information Phone Service is 0818 07 4000
  • The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is 0818 07 2000
  • The National Advocacy Service is 0818 07 3000

For a listing of all local service numbers, check out citizensinformation.ie or mabs.ie.

Christmas opening hours and other supports

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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 9-5Reduced 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 1/01/2022ClosedNew Year’s Day
Sunday 2/01/2022 Closed
Monday 3/01/2022 Closed
Tuesday 4/01/2022 9-8Normal 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 CallOpening hours Email
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

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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:

Citizens Information has moved to 0818 prefix

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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.

Will calls to 0818 cost more?

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.

Helpline numbers

The national helpline numbers with the new prefix are:

  • The Citizens Information Phone Service is 0818 07 4000
  • The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is 0818 07 2000
  • The National Advocacy Service is 0818 07 3000

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.

Know your rights: Flight and hotel cancellation

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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:

  • The Citizens Information Phone Service: Call 0761 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm

You can continue to contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.

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