Category Archives: What’s New

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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New rules on how workplaces must share tips, gratuities and service charges amongst employees come into force on 1 December 2022.

If you paid the student contribution, you may be entitled to a partial refund. This is because the student contribution was reduced for this year as part of Budget 2023. You must provide your college with bank details by Wednesday 30 November 2022.

The Christmas Bonus will be paid in the week starting on 5 December 2022.

The deadline to choose your payment method for the 2023 Local Property Tax is:

  • 2 December 2022, if you spread your payments over the year
  • 10 January 2023, if you pay in a single payment

If you already pay using a recurring method such as direct debit, this will continue for 2023, unless you change it.

Local authorities have launched an appeal for unoccupied properties to house people fleeing the war in Ukraine. A tax-free recognition payment of €400 per month is available for each property used. This will increase to €800 from 1 December 2022.

A new Irish Sign Language (ISL) scheme for children who are Deaf and are attending primary school, post-primary school or special school and whose main means of communication is using Irish Sign Language is now in place.

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If you qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant, you will get a €500 payment this week.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been extended to cover all areas of the country. It was previously only available for vacant homes in regional towns and cities.

A national living wage will replace the minimum wage from 2026.

Late fees for registering a tenancy under the new annual registration system do not apply for most tenancies at the moment. If you have paid late fees under the new system, you will be refunded.

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Lump sum payments for the following schemes will be paid the week starting 14 November 2022: 

Residents of nursing homes can keep more of any rental income they get from their principal residence following changes to the Fair Deal Scheme.

You can now register to vote or update the register at any time of the year. New registrations and updates to the existing register can be made online at checktheregister.ie.

The call for the current Back for Business programme is now open. The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 6 January 2023.

If you receive a summons to appear in court to face a criminal prosecution, you must now also receive written information about your rights.

The pilot Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme has bursaries available for members of the Traveller community to access apprenticeships.

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An eviction ban is now in place from 30 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.

The double payment of Child Benefit that was announced in Budget 2023 was paid today (1 November 2022).

Fines for some driving offences doubled from 27 October 2022.

New laws on tips, gratuities and service charges will come into force from 1 December 2022.

The Accommodation Recognition Payment for hosting Ukrainian refugees will double to €800 from 1 December 2022.

The Citizens’ Assembly has voted in favour of a directly elected mayor for Dublin. The Assembly’s recommendations and report will be sent to the Government before the end of the year.

Citizens of Belarus and Russia who have a visa for the UK can no longer enter Ireland without a separate Irish visa under the Visa Waiver Scheme.

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Most people on a weekly social welfare payment will get a double payment in the week beginning 17 October 2022. This is to help with the cost of living. People getting Illness Benefit do not get a double payment.  The Department of Social Protection has a list of payments that qualify for the double week.

There will be a double Child Benefit payment on 1 November 2022. This means you will get an extra €140 for each child in November. 

During the week starting 14 November 2022, a number of extra once-off payments will be paid: 

Carers who qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant will get a once-off payment of €500 the week starting 21 November 2022. 

The social welfare Christmas Bonus will be paid the week starting 5 December 2022. In 2022, the Christmas Bonus will be double your normal weekly long-term social welfare payment.

Applications for the SUSI student grant 2022/2023 close on Thursday, 3 November 2022. 

Planning permission is no longer needed for solar panels on the roof of your house as long as you meet certain conditions. 

You can now buy a digital stamp from the An Post app. 

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