Returning in Crisis

If you have returned to Ireland and you are homeless, you should go to the Local Authority (city or county council) in the area which you previously lived to request emergency accommodation assistance. The local authority will assess if you qualify for emergency accommodation. Please note that council offices are closed outside normal office hours (9am – 5pm), as well as on weekends and Bank Holidays.

If you are homeless in Dublin city:

• Contact Dublin City Council’s Central Placement Service (CPS) on Freephone 1800 707 707 (7 days a week, 10am – 10pm) for emergency accommodation and urgent housing support in Dublin City. Visit homelessdublin.ie for more information.
• If you are sleeping rough, phone 01 872 0185 (Monday to Friday 7am – 1am, Saturday to Sunday 9am – 1pm) to speak to the Dublin Outreach team. This service is provided by Dublin Simon Community in partnership with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive.

If you have returned to Ireland and have no income or means, you can apply for a social welfare payment. Applying for a social welfare payment can take time and you must meet certain conditions to qualify. You will need a PPS Number to apply. You may need to show that Ireland is your main place of residence as part of the ‘habitual residence condition‘ (HRC) and satisfy a means test.

To apply for a social welfare payment without an Irish address, you will need to show that you are engaging with your local authority for emergency accommodation assistance.

You can apply for most social welfare payments online at MyWelfare.ie or by post using a paper application form. You can request the relevant form from your local Intreo Centre. These offices are closed outside normal office hours, on weekends, and Bank Holidays.

If you are in need of emergency medical assistance on your return, go to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department at the nearest hospital or call 999 or 112.

If you are being deported back to Ireland from abroad, make sure to bring:

• Photo ID (passport or a copy of Emergency Travel Document)
• Proof of your deportation (release papers or a letter from the relevant Irish Embassy or Consulate)

Once you can provide proof of your deportation, you should be able to satisfy the ‘habitual residence condition’ for the purposes of accessing a social welfare payment as Ireland should be considered your main centre of interest. Contact us if you need help with this.

If you or someone you know is returning to Ireland post-release, contact the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) by calling +353 1 5053156 or emailing info@icpo.ie. See their website at icpo.ie.

Download this ‘Resettlement Handbook,’ along with this ‘Step-By-Step Guide for returning to Ireland if you are being released from prison overseas/deported‘ for useful information.

If you need help abroad, contact your local Irish embassy or consulate. You can also contact the Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin by phone on +353 1 408 2000.

Irish emigrant support organisations may also be able to offer some support. See our list of support organisations here or the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Diaspora Directory.