Monthly Archives: December 2022

Christmas opening hours

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The nationwide network of Citizens Information Centres will close on Friday 23 December 2022 at 1pm and reopen on Tuesday 3 January 2023 at 9am. You should contact your local centre directly to check the details of opening hours if you plan to visit.

The Citizens Information Phone Service will operate reduced hours over Christmas and New Year.

Day DateOpening hoursComment
Thursday22/12/229- 8Normal hours
Friday23/12/229-5Reduced hours
Saturday24/12/22ClosedChristmas Eve
Sunday25/12/22ClosedChristmas Day
Monday26/12/22ClosedSt. Stephen’s Day
Tuesday27/12/22Closed
Wednesday28/12/22Closed
Thursday29/12/229-5Reduced hours
Friday30/12/229-5Reduced hours
Saturday31/12/22ClosedNew Year’s Eve
Sunday1/01/2023ClosedNew Year’s Day
Monday2/01/2023Closed
Tuesday3/01/20239-8Normal hours

The citizensinformation.ie website will not be updated over this period.

If you need emergency support over the Christmas period, you can contact a range of voluntary services.

ServiceCallOpening hoursEmail
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   Text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply)
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		01 554 3811Open 9am-2pm on 23 December
Closed from 24 to 27 December and 2 January		hello@mensaid.ie
Childline

Support for everyone up to the age of 18 in Ireland		1800 666 666   Live Chat24 hours (any time, day or night)
50808

If you are experiencing a crisis and are unable to cope		Text HELLO to 5080824 hours (any time, day or night)

The HSE has a full list of online, phone and text mental health services.

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From 1 January 2023, you have a right to 3 days’ sick pay a year. This is called statutory sick pay (that means the legal minimum). Sick pay is paid by your employer at 70% of your normal pay up to a maximum of €110 a day.

From 23 January 2023, you will have the option to sit a 45-minute computer-based test to renew your safe pass.

The Accommodation Recognition Payment has increased to €800 per month. The first payment at the new rate will be made on 10 January 2023.

All remaining COVID-19 restrictions on visiting someone in prison have been removed.

Free contraception for women aged 26 will be available from 1 January 2023. The free scheme is currently available to women aged 17 to 25.

Parents who are paying for their children’s accommodation while they are at college can qualify for the new Rent Tax Credit.

Home carers can now apply for a General Employment Permit. They must be earning at least €27,000 per year and either have a Level 5 qualification, or get one within 2 years.

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The Christmas Bonus is normally paid in one lump sum. However, if you are getting Illness Benefit, your Christmas Bonus may be paid over 2 weeks between Tuesday, 6 December 2022, and Friday, 23 December 2022.

You can now apply for the Fuel Allowance online. There are also new Fuel Allowance means tests for over 70s which take effect from 2 January 2023.

If you have a Local Authority Home Loan, interest rates increased on 10 December 2022.

From 1 January 2023, the income limits for local authority/social housing will increase by €5,000 for all local authority areas.

If you were eligible for a free HPV vaccine but you did not get it, you can book a HPV vaccine catch-up appointment online.  This applies if you are:

  • Female and aged 16 to 25, or
  • Male aged 16 or older and you started your first year of secondary school (including  homeschool and special schools) in September 2019

From Friday 9 December, GPs will no longer refer their patients to a PCR test centre for COVID-19 tests. If you are a vulnerable patient, your GP can test you for COVID-19 at their clinic. If you have a medical card or GP visit card, the test is free. If you are a private patient, you will have to pay  €55.

If you cannot find an appropriate school for your child with special needs, new laws make additional provisions for your child. The Department of Education has published information for schools about providing for children with special education needs.

If you are doing an apprenticeship, you should check with your employer or local ETB if you are entitled to any allowances such as a tool allowance. You should also check if you qualify for employment tax credits and reliefs.

If you have changed gender and you want a name on your Gender Recognition Certificate that is different to the name  on your birth certificate, you no longer need to show that you have used your name for 2 years or changed your name by a deed poll.

New European Union laws have come into effect and mean that sale prices must also show the prior price. The prior price is the lowest price the goods were on sale for in the 30 days before the sale.

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The Christmas Bonus will be paid with your normal social welfare payment from this week – 5 December 2022.  The Bonus is 100% of your normal weekly long-term social welfare payment.

If you have been getting Illness Benefit for 12 months or more, you will get a Christmas Bonus payment for the first time this year. Your Bonus will be paid between 6 December 2022 and 23 December 2022.

Following commencement of the Consumer Rights Act 2022 on 29 November 2022, the Consumer category has many new and revised pages including:

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