Refugee and Migrant Support Services

Some links to organisations working in the refugee and migrant support area:

• New Horizon Athlone (that’s us!)
• Irish Refugee Council
• Immigrant Council of Ireland
• Spirasi
• Ruhama
• Doras Luimní  

Citizens Information Centre (CIC)
Augustine House, St Augustine Street, Galway.
Tel: 091 563344
Email: info@galwaycic.ie
Web www.galwaycic.ieOpening
Hours: Mon-Fri 9.30-17.00 including lunchtime except Wed from 13.00-14.00.
– Free confidential information advice and advocacy service for all, on all rights and entitlements including employment, housing, legal matters, health, welfare payment, and immigration issues.

Citizens Information Phone Advice
Tel: 1890 777121
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 9.00-21.00.
– Lo-call service offering free confidential information advice and advocacy service for all, on all rights and entitlements including employment, housing, legal matters, health, welfare payment, and immigration issues.

Galway People’s Resource Centre
Equality Office, Canavan House, Nuns Island, Galway.
Tel: 091564822
Email: gcu@eircom.net
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00.
– Information service and assistance with complaints under equality legislation.

Society of St Vincent de Paul
Ozanam House, Augustine Street, Galway
Tel (091) 563233

Galway Refugee Support Group (GRSG)
3 The Plaza, Headford Rd. Galway.
Tel (091) 779083.
E-mail refugee.galway@ireland.com
– Full time community development organization working with social, cultural information and health projects.

Irish Refugee Council
Unit 13, Business Park, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare
Tel (065) 6822026
or
88 Capel Street, Dublin 1
Tel (01) 8730042

Refugee Information Service (RIS)
Canavan House, Nuns Island, Galway.
Tel: 091 532850
E-mail: infogalway@ris.ie
Opening Hours: Tues 2.00-4.30 in People’s Resource Centre. Thurs 10.30-1.00 in Citizen’s Information Centre, Augustine Street.
– Free confidential specialist information, advocacy and referral service for refugees and asylum seekers.

Support Project for Adolescent Refugee Kids (SPARK)
No 7 Francis Street, Galway.
Contact Berni Smyth
Tel: 091 562041 or 087 6502349
Email: spark@gyf.ie
– Project for 12-18 year old refugees and asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors, living in Galway city, providing information, social activities, individual, group and family work support.

ACCESS IRELAND (REFUGEE INTEGRATION PROJECT)
Richmond Business Campus, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.
– Information regarding different cultures, training for minority group mediators to liase between clients and services providers. Provides training on interculturism. Mon-Fri 9.30 – 5.30pm
Tel (01) 8780589

AFGHAN Community of Ireland
Off Navan Road, Dublin
Tel (01) 8683577

AkiDWA – Sisters from Africa
The Catherine McAuley Centre, 23 Herbert Street, Dublin 2
Tel (01) 6387500
Fax (01) 6387511
Email akidwa01@yahoo.co.uk.

Amnesty International
48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2
Tel (01) 6776361
Or
2-3 Middle Street, Galway
Tel (091) 533637

Equality Authority
Clonmel Street, Dublin 2
Tel (01) 4173333

Galway One World Centre
The Halls, Quay Street, Galway.
Tel: (091) 530590.
Email galwayowc@hotmail.com
Opening Hours 14.00-16.30 Tue-Fri.
Provides anti-racism training.

Galway City Lets
Local Employment and Trading System
Tel (091) 530590 / 087 9111624
www.galwaylets.uk
– A Lets is a local trading system in which goods and services are traded by members for a unique currency that is only valid within the system.

Samaritans
14 Nuns Island, Galway
Area Help Line 1850609090
Tel (091) 561222
Text 087 2609090
jo@samaritians.org

Intercultural Focus Group
Galway City & County Childcare Committee, 9b Liosbaun Retail Centre, Tuam Rd, Galway.
Tel: (091) 752039
– Provides supports for families of minority groups in Galway, to enable greater integration and access to childcare services.

Police Services
Garda Siochana, Mill Street, Galway.
Tel: 091 528000
Opening Hours 24 hours per day every day.

Intercultural Focus Group
Galway City & County Childcare Committee, 9b Liosbaun Retail Centre, Tuam Rd, Galway.
Tel: (091) 752039
– Provides supports for families of minority groups in Galway, to enable greater integration and access to childcare services.

Medical Pregnancy- Life Pregnancy Care Services
Prospect House Prospect Hill Galway
Tel (091) 566939

Pregnancy- Positive Options Crisis Pregnancy Services
Text List to 50444 for list of all agencies that support a woman during a crisis pregnancy
www.positiveoptions.ie

Area Medical Officer
Asylum Seeker and Refugees Service, Community Services, 25 Newcastle Road, Galway
Dr. Mary Jordan
Tel (091) 546359

Clerical Officer
Asylum Seekers and Refugees, Community Care, 25 Newcastle Road, Galway
Ms Marella Kavanagh
091 546250

Community Development
Community Services, The Annex, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway
Mr Dan Quaid
Tel 091 548331/2 (Mon to Fri mornings only)

Community Welfare Section
HSE, West City Centre, Seamus Quirke Rd, Galway.
Tel (091) 523122
Opening hours: 9.30-13.00, 14.00-17.00 Mon-Fri.
– Provides statutory maintenance support and determines eligibility for public health services.

Health Promotion Services,
Community Services, The Annex, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway
Contact Maeve Geraghty
Tel (091) 548418

Hepatology Unit
University College Hospital Galway
Tel (091) 544967

Samaritans
14 Nuns Island, Galway
Area Help Line 1850609090
Tel (091) 561222
Text 087 2609090
jo@samaritians.org

Rape Crisis Centre
7 Claddagh Quay, Galway
Helpline 1850 355 355
Business 091 583149
Fax 091 583148
Email galwayrcc@eircom.net

Irish Red Cross
16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Tel (01) 6765135 /7

National Association for the Deaf
9a St Francis Street, Galway
Tel (091) 564926

Galway County Child Care Committee
Intercultural Committee, Unit 9a, Liosban Retail Park, Tuam Road, Galway
Contact Fionnuala Foley
Development Worker
Tel (091) 752039

Family Violence Helpline
Mondays 4-6pm
Tel 1800 638888
– Family violence is any form of physical, sexual or psychological violence which puts the safety or welfare of a family member at risk.

Aids West
Ozanam House, St Augustine Street, Galway
Mon –Fri 9.30am to 5pm
Tel (091) 566266
Client help line (091) 562213
Email aidswest@iol.ie
Web www.aidswest.ie
– Provide information, education and support.

Pregnancy- Life Pregnancy Care Services
Prospect House, Prospect Hill, Galway
Tel (091) 566939

Pregnancy- Positive Options Crisis Pregnancy Services
Text List to 50444 for list of all agencies that support a woman during a crisis pregnancy
www.positiveoptions.ie

Youth Health Project
7 Francis Street, (across from Abbey Church).
Tel: 091 535377
Email gaf.nurse@mailn.hse.ie
– A free and confidential nursing service to support young people.

Support Project for Adolescent Refugee Kids (SPARK)
No 7 Francis Street, Galway.
Contact Berni Smyth
Tel: 091 562041 or 087 6502349
Email: spark@gyf.ie
– Project for 12-18 year old refugees and asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors, living in Galway city, providing information, social activities, individual, group and family work support.

Home Management Services
Community Services, The Annex, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway
Tel (091) 548402

Infectious Diseases
University College Hospital Galway
Tel (091) 525200

Pre-school services
Unit 8b Liosban Retail Park, Tuam Road, Galway
Ms Breda McCarthy
Tel (091) 771928

Public Health Nurse
Asylum Seeker Services, Community Care, The Annex, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway
Tel 091 548497

Suicide Resource Officer
Community Services, The Annex, West City Centre, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway
Ms Mary O’Sullivan
Tel (091) 548360

Money Advice and Budgeting Services
3rd Floor, The Halls, Quay Street, Galway.
Contact Ms Catriona Ni Charra (Co-ordinator)
Tel 091 569349

Home Management Services
Community Services, The Annex, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway
Tel (091) 548402

Reception and Integration Agency
Block C, Ardilaun Centre, 112 – 114 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.
Tel: +353 1 4183200
Fax: +353 1 4183271
Email: RIA_Inbox@justice.ie
Web www.ria.gov.ie

Visa Office
Department of Foreign Affairs. 13/ 14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6167700
Web: www.foreign affairs.gove.ie
Opening Hours Mon-Fri 2.30-4.00 pm

Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform
13/ 14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6167700
Web: www.justice,ie

International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
7 Hill Street, Dublin 1.
Tel: 01 8787900
E-mail: info@iomdublin.org
Web : www.iomdublin.org
– Voluntary assisted return and reintergration programmes offering asylum seekers and migrants help and advice to return home

Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner
79-83 Lower Mount St, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6028000
Fax: 01 602 8122
Email: oracmail.ie
Opening Hours: 08.45 to 16.00 Mon – Fri.

Refugee Appeals Tribunal
6/7 Hanover Street, Timberlay House, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 4748400.
E-mail: info@refappeal.ie

Police Services
Garda Siochana, Mill Street, Galway.
Tel: 091 528000
Opening Hours 24 hours per day every day.

Family Reunification Unit
Department of Justice and Law Reform, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2
Tel (01) 6167700

Family Tracing
c/o Irish Red Cross, 16 Merrion Square, Dublin
Tel (01) 6765135 /6/7

Refugee Legal Service (RLS)
Seville House, New Dock Street, Galway.
Tel (091) 562480
E-mail rlsgalway@legalaidboard.ie
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9.30-12.30, 14.00-16.00.
– Private, confidential and independent legal service to people applying for asylum in Ireland.

Support and Information for Russian Speaking Community (SORUSSI)
Galway City Partnership, 3 The Plaza, Headford Rd, Galway.
Tel: 086 3029540/ 086 2982183
Email: sorussigalway@hotmail.com
– Hosts regular meetings offering support, information and translation to Russian speakers. Meetings: Wed. 16.00-18.00. Venue: Galway City Partnership.

Friendship Club
Methodist Church, Victoria Place, Galway
– Hosts regular meetings to support friendship and integration for families and children. Meeting: Wed afternoon. Venue: Methodist Church, Victoria Place, Galway

Minority Association Services
Lokola Mitwali, c/o GOWC, The Halls, Quay Street, Galway.
Tel: 086 1776730
Email: mas-association@hotmail.com
– Provides assistance and support with integration, representation and education of ethnic minorities.

Voluntary Project for Asylum Seekers
c/o One World Centre, The Halls, Quay Street, Galway.
Tel/Fax: 091 530590
Email: asgireland@eircom.net
– Encourages integration and skills development through voluntary work placements.

Galway Friendship Club (Drop in centre)
Methodist Church, Galway
Wed 2.30 –5pm
All faiths and nationalities welcome
Contact Ms Heather Smith
Tel 091 631998
Mob 086 8185739

Roma Support Group
C/o Galway One World Centre, The Halls, Quay Street, Galway
Tel (091) 530590

Newtext
Tel (01) 8222452
Context, Oranmore, Co. Galway
Tel (091) 790514
www.context.ie
linguist@context.ie

English Classes for non-national persons
The City of Galway VEC Adult Literacy Service, Prospect House Courtyard, Prospect Hill, Galway.
Tel: 091 567660
Email: info.als@cgvec.ie
Opening Hours: 9.00-17.00 Mon-Fri.
– Provides English language, Reading, Writing and Numeracy skills classes.

Integrate Ireland
Nico Vennemann
Tel (085) 1471761
– Provides free daily English classes for refugees and people with Stamp 4 Certificate of Registration.

Conradh na Gaeilge
Aras na nGael, Dominick Street, Galway.
Tel (091) 567824,
Fax 091 563699
Email: conradh@bradan.iol.ie
Web: www.gaillimh.cnag.ie
– Provides free Irish language group classes to all. Hosts regular Irish/African cultural/music events.