How We Can Help
Doras provides support, makes referrals, and advocates on behalf of international protection applicants, refugees and migrants who need assistance accessing their rights and entitlements, primarily at our headquarters in Limerick. We also provide support online, over the phone, and nationally through our outreach efforts.
Doras has a dedicated team of workers who provide in-depth assistance, information and referrals on a wide range of immigration-related and other issues.
We offer a confidential, and professional service, assisting people from migrant backgrounds in accessing their rights and entitlements.
These services are available free of charge to anyone in need of assistance, no matter what their status or situation.
See below the issues we can help you with:
We provide a full range of supports and assistance for people in the International Protection system, as well as beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine.
We also assist with:
- Family Reunification
- Residency, and Renewal of Residency
- Visas (D and C Visa Applications)
- Travel Documents
- EU Treaty Rights applications and reviews
- Assistance on applying for specific schemes
- General immigration queries
If you find yourself homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, or if you need assistance with housing, Doras can:
- Help you navigate the housing and social welfare system
- Make representations to local authority Homeless Action Teams and other service providers
- Assist with housing and Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) applications
- Signpost and link in with appropriate services
- Assist in dispute resolution, including engaging with Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)
- Refer you to NILS (No Interest Loan Scheme) for assistance with deposit
Unfortunately, Doras does not provide any form of emergency accommodation, nor can we provide financial support for people who are homeless or moving into new accommodation.
For accommodation specific queries, contact us at accomwelfare@doras.org
We can support with queries on:
- Job Seeker Allowance / Benefit applications
- Daily Expenses Allowance applications (for International Protection Applicants)
- PPSN registration (this is required to access state services)
- MyGovID account setup (to access government services)
- Assistance with additional benefits such as Lone Parent, Working Family Payment, Child Benefit, Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance (Non-Contributory and Contributory), Carer’s Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Additional Needs and Supplementary Welfare applications.
- Social Welfare Appeals
We also provide dedicated support to people transitioning out of Direct Provision.
We provide:
- Referrals to English classes
- Our own conversational English classes
- Online courses for migrants and refugees
- Information and advice on further and higher education
- Assistance with work permit application (international protection applicants)
- Assistance for people seeking work (CV preparation and guidance)
- Support in developing career plans and finding employment opportunities
For more information, see our Employment and Education programme.
If you have a medical card issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE), you can get certain health services free of charge. We can help with medical card applications, as well as
- Finding a doctor or General Practitioner (GP)
- Getting prescribed drugs and medicines
- Accessing hospital services
- Dental, optical and other services
- Maternity and infant care
- Mental health services and support
If you are a victim of crime, we can help through our Migrant Victim Support Service. In particular, we help people who may have experience of:
- Labour and sexual exploitation;
- Human Trafficking;
- Hate crime and discrimination;
- Homelessness;
- Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence;
- General crime (assault, theft, fraud, etc.)
Contact Us
Send us a web query and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also see our opening hours and address on the link below.
Information for Ukrainians
A dedicated Ukraine support service for beneficiaries of temporary protection. Contact the Ukraine support team:
- Phone or WhatsApp: 083 0391819 (9.30am-1pm | 2pm-5pm | Monday to Friday)
- Email: ukraine@doras.org
Migrant Victim Support Service
A specialised support to victims of racism and hate crime, domestic violence, trafficking and exploitation.
You can contact the victim support team by phone or WhatsApp 083 0086391 (8am-10pm), email mvs@doras.org or send us an online query:
Accommodation Support
Dedicated service for groups working with beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants in emergency accommodation anywhere in Ireland who have concerns over welfare and standards in the centre.
You can get in touch via email accomwelfare@doras.org or by sending us an online query.