Legal aid for asylum seekers in Ireland
Information
Free legal aid is available to asylum seekers in Ireland through the Refugee Legal Service to assist at all stages of the asylum process. This includes at the time of the initial application, first interview, appeals and advice on deportation. Alternatively, you may also engage the services of a solicitor on a commercial basis at your own expense. You may also consult with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Irish Refugee Council provides legal services, albeit on a limited scale. This consists principally of advice and support to asylum seekers. Issues covered include making an application for asylum and interview preparation.
You should seek legal advice as early as possible in the process for asylum.
Refugee Legal Service
The Refugee Legal Service is an office established by the Legal Aid Board to provide confidential and independent legal services to persons applying for asylum in Ireland. Legal aid and advice is also provided in appropriate cases on deportation orders. The Refugee Legal Service provides a confidential service to all persons who contact it. To qualify for legal aid you must pass a means test - see 'Rules' below.
The Legal Aid Board is an independent statutory body providing legal services in civil matters.
Legal services provided
A person who makes an application for legal services will be assisted as soon as possible. Assistance will be provided in the following way:
- The Refugee Legal Service will generally assist in applications for asylum by providing advice to you before you submit your questionnaire to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner or before you attend your interview in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner
- The Refugee Legal Service can make written submissions to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner in support of your application for asylum
- The Refugee Legal Service can provide representation before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal
- Where an application for refugee status is refused, the Refugee Legal Service can assist generally in the submission of applications in accordance with the Immigration Act 1999 and matters arising from this submission
- The Refugee Legal Service can assist in relation to deportation orders and Judicial Review procedures.
Rules
Means test
To qualify for legal services, your income, less certain allowances, must be less than €18,000 and you must pay a minimum contribution of €10 for legal advice and €50 for representation before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal or for representation before the High Court. If you have already paid an advice contribution of €10 the balance of the aid contribution due will be €40.
People who are only receiving social welfare payments will generally be eligible for legal services at the minimum contribution. People in Direct Provision may apply to have some of their contribution waived, which is at the discretion of the Legal Aid Board.
Requirements of people seeking assistance
If you become a client of the Refugee Legal Service you must:
- Keep the Refugee Legal Service advised at all times of your current address.
- Attend at all appointments made for you with your caseworker or solicitor in the Refugee Legal Service. Strict limits apply at all stages of the asylum process and failure to attend appointments on time may result in the Refugee Legal Service being unable to provide a service to you.
How to apply
Call to the office or telephone the Refugee Legal Service for an appointment.
Where to apply
Refugee Legal Service
48-49 North Brunswick Street
Georges Lane
Dublin 7
Ireland
Tel:+353 (0)1 646 9600
Fax:+353 (0)1 671 0200
Homepage: http://www.legalaidboard.ie/lab/publishing.nsf/Content/Refugee_Legal_Service
Email: dublinrls@legalaidboard.ie
Refugee Legal Service
North Quay House
Popes Quay
Cork
Ireland
Tel:+353 (0)21 455 4634
Fax:+353 (0)21 455 7622
Homepage: http://www.legalaidboard.ie/lab/publishing.nsf/Content/Refugee_Legal_Service
Email: corkrls@legalaidboard.ie
Refugee Legal Service
Seville House
New Dock Road
Galway
Ireland
Tel:+353 (0)91 562480
Fax:+353 (0)91 562599
Homepage: http://www.legalaidboard.ie/lab/publishing.nsf/Content/Refugee_Legal_Service
Email: rlsgalway@legalaidboard.ie
Irish Refugee Council
1 Bank Place
Ennis
Clare
Ireland
Tel:+353 65 682 2026
Fax:+353 65 682 2017
Homepage: http://www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie
Email: irc.ennis@eircom.net
Irish Refugee Council
2nd Floor
Ballast House
Aston Quay
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel:+353 1 764 5854
Fax:+353 (0)1 672 5927
Homepage: http://www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie
Email: info@irishrefugeecouncil.ie
Related Documents
- Investigation of applications for refugee status in Ireland by the Refugee Applications Commissioner
An outline of the interview process for asylum seekers in seeking refugee status in Ireland is provided. - Rights and obligations of asylum seekers in Ireland
Asylum seekers and those applying for declarations for refugees in Ireland have certain legal rights. They also have important obligations. Find out about these rights and obligations. - Applying for refugee status in Ireland
There are various important rules and processes involved in applying for refugee status in Ireland.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.