Complaint Router
Select your issue. We'll tell you exactly who handles it, how to contact them, and give you a template letter to get started. Every authority listed here is legally obligated to respond.
Housing & Landlords
Rent disputes, deposit retention, substandard accommodation, illegal eviction, HAP issues
Employment & Workplace
Unfair dismissal, unpaid wages, discrimination, bullying, unsafe conditions, redundancy
Health Services
HSE complaints, hospital treatment, GP issues, medical card refusal, mental health services
Consumer & Financial
Faulty goods, scams, insurance disputes, banking issues, debt problems
Garda & Policing
Garda misconduct, failure to investigate, excessive force, complaint about policing
Public Services
Government department failures, social welfare delays, passport delays, council issues
Data & Privacy
GDPR breaches, unwanted marketing, data leaks, right to erasure, surveillance
Political & Ethics
TD or councillor misconduct, undeclared interests, lobbying concerns, FOI refusal
Education
School issues, bullying, SUSI grant refusal, special education needs, exam appeals
Children & Family
Child welfare concerns, childcare issues, family support, custody, domestic violence
Environment & Planning
Pollution, illegal dumping, planning objections, water quality, noise complaints
Equality & Discrimination
Discrimination in services, employment, housing, or education on any of the 9 protected grounds
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)
Rent disputes, deposit retention, illegal eviction, breach of landlord obligations, rent pressure zone violations, notice to quit issues. The RTB can order compensation, refund deposits, and reverse illegal evictions.
- Website
- rtb.ie
- Online dispute
- rtb.ie/dispute-resolution
- Phone
- 0818 303 037
- Cost
- Free to file a dispute
- Response time
- Acknowledgement within 5 working days
Local Authority Housing Section
Social housing applications, housing waiting list, HAP issues, homeless services, housing adaptation grants, council house repairs. Contact your local city or county council.
- Find yours
- gov.ie โ Local Authorities
- HAP queries
- Contact your council's HAP section directly
Threshold (Housing charity)
Free legal advice for tenants on any housing issue. Can advocate on your behalf with landlords and the RTB. Advice on notice to quit, rent increases, standards.
- Website
- threshold.ie
- Phone (Dublin)
- 1800 454 454
- Phone (Cork)
- 021 427 8848
- Phone (Galway)
- 091 563 080
- Cost
- Free
Template: Complaint to the RTB
Copy this template, fill in your details, and submit via the RTB online dispute form or post.
Your rights as a tenant
- Your landlord must register the tenancy with the RTB
- You are entitled to a minimum of 90 days notice for rent increases (and only once per year)
- In Rent Pressure Zones, rent increases are capped at 2% per year or the rate of inflation (whichever is lower)
- Your landlord must maintain the property to minimum standards (S.I. No. 137/2019)
- You cannot be evicted without valid grounds and proper notice periods
- Your deposit must be returned within 30 days of the end of tenancy, unless the landlord has a valid claim
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)
Unfair dismissal, unpaid wages/holiday pay, discrimination at work, bullying, redundancy disputes, zero-hour contracts. The WRC can order reinstatement, compensation, and back pay.
- Website
- workplacerelations.ie
- Online complaint
- Submit complaint online
- Phone
- 0818 80 80 90
- Cost
- Free
- Time limit
- 6 months from incident (extendable to 12 in some cases)
Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
Unsafe working conditions, employer not providing PPE, workplace accidents, chemical exposure, inadequate training. The HSA can inspect, issue improvement notices, and prosecute.
- Website
- hsa.ie
- Report online
- hsa.ie โ Make a Complaint
- Phone
- 0818 289 389
- Cost
- Free
FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres)
Free legal advice on any employment issue. Can help you understand your rights before filing a WRC complaint.
- Website
- flac.ie
- Phone
- 01 906 1010 (MonโFri, 9:30โ1pm)
- Cost
- Free
Template: Complaint to the WRC
The WRC prefers online submissions. Use this to prepare your complaint before entering it on their form.
Your rights at work
- Minimum wage: โฌ13.50/hour (2025). โฌ12.70 for under-20s
- Maximum working week: 48 hours (averaged over 4 months)
- Minimum annual leave: 4 weeks paid leave per year
- You must receive a written statement of terms within 5 days of starting
- Unfair dismissal protection after 12 months of continuous service
- You cannot be dismissed for making a complaint to the WRC
- Redundancy: 2 weeks pay per year of service plus 1 week, if you have 2+ years
HSE Complaints โ Your Service Your Say
Complaints about any HSE-funded service โ hospitals, GPs, mental health, disability services, nursing homes. They must acknowledge within 5 working days and investigate within 30.
- Website
- hse.ie โ Your Service Your Say
- Online form
- Make a complaint
- Phone
- 0818 240 014
- Post
- HSE Complaints, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare
- Cost
- Free
Ombudsman
If the HSE's own complaints process doesn't resolve your issue, you can escalate to the Ombudsman. They investigate complaints about public services including hospitals and health agencies.
- Website
- ombudsman.ie
- Phone
- 01 639 5600
- Cost
- Free
Medical Council
Complaints about a specific doctor's conduct or competence. The Medical Council can investigate, sanction, or strike off a doctor.
- Website
- medicalcouncil.ie
- Phone
- 01 498 3100
Template: Complaint to the HSE
Use this template to file a formal complaint through "Your Service Your Say". Submit online, by post, or by email.
Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)
Faulty goods, misleading advertising, unfair terms, product safety, door-to-door selling, online shopping issues. The CCPC enforces consumer law and can take action against businesses.
- Website
- ccpc.ie
- Phone
- 01 402 5555
- Cost
- Free
Financial Services & Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)
Complaints about banks, insurance companies, credit unions, pension providers. Can award compensation up to โฌ500,000. You must complain to the provider first.
- Website
- fspo.ie
- Phone
- 01 567 7000
- Cost
- Free
Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS)
Free, confidential debt advice. Can negotiate with creditors on your behalf. Covers mortgages, credit cards, utility arrears, tax debt.
- Website
- mabs.ie
- Phone
- 0818 07 2000
- Cost
- Free
Template: Complaint to the FSPO
Use this to file a complaint against a bank, insurer, or financial service provider. You must complain to the provider first and allow them 40 business days to respond.
Garda Sรญochรกna Ombudsman Commission (GSOC)
Complaints about Garda misconduct, excessive force, failure to investigate, abuse of power, corruption. GSOC is independent and can investigate, discipline, and recommend prosecution.
- Website
- gardaombudsman.ie
- Online complaint
- Make a complaint
- Phone
- 0818 600 800
- Cost
- Free
- Time limit
- 12 months from incident
Policing Authority
Oversight of Garda performance and policy. Not for individual complaints (use GSOC), but for systemic policing concerns.
- Website
- policingauthority.ie
Template: Complaint to GSOC
Use this to file a formal complaint about Garda misconduct. You can submit online, by post, or in person at a Garda station.
Ombudsman
The Ombudsman investigates complaints about government departments, local authorities, the HSE, and other public bodies. Their decisions are not legally binding but are almost always followed. You must complain to the body itself first.
- Website
- ombudsman.ie
- Online complaint
- Make a complaint
- Phone
- 01 639 5600
- Cost
- Free
Your Local TD
TDs have constituency offices specifically for helping constituents navigate public services. They can make representations to departments on your behalf. This is a legitimate function of their role.
- Find your TD
- oireachtas.ie/members
- Or check our dashboard
- Policy Tracker โ see how they vote before you contact them
Information Commissioner (FOI)
If a public body refuses your Freedom of Information request, or charges excessive fees, or takes too long to respond โ you can appeal to the Information Commissioner.
- Website
- oic.ie
- Phone
- 01 639 5689
- Cost
- Free (for personal information) / โฌ50 (other)
Template: Complaint to the Ombudsman
Use this after you have already complained to the public body directly and are unsatisfied with their response.
Data Protection Commission (DPC)
GDPR complaints โ data breaches, unwanted marketing, refusal of access/erasure requests, unlawful data processing, surveillance. The DPC can investigate and fine organisations up to 4% of global turnover.
- Website
- dataprotection.ie
- Online complaint
- Submit complaint
- Phone
- 0818 104 800
- Cost
- Free
- Prerequisite
- You must contact the organisation first and allow them 1 month to respond
Template: Complaint to the Data Protection Commission
You must contact the organisation first and give them 1 month to respond before filing with the DPC.
Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)
Complaints about undeclared interests, breaches of ethics legislation, improper use of public resources by TDs, senators, councillors, or senior public servants.
- Website
- sipo.ie
- Phone
- 01 639 5666
- Cost
- Free
Lobbying Register
Check who is lobbying your TD and on what issues. All registered lobbying activity is publicly searchable.
- Website
- lobbying.ie
- Cost
- Free to search
Template: Complaint to SIPO
Use this to report a suspected breach of ethics legislation by a public official.
Ombudsman for Children
Complaints about schools, school transport, special education, bullying that the school hasn't resolved. Independent investigation of children's rights issues.
- Website
- oco.ie
- Phone
- 01 865 6800
- Freephone
- 1800 20 20 40
- Cost
- Free
SUSI Grant Appeals
If your student grant application was refused, you can appeal to SUSI first, then to an independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
- SUSI website
- susi.ie
- Appeals Board
- gov.ie โ Student Grant Appeals
Template: Complaint to the Ombudsman for Children
Use this after you have already complained to the school or education body and are unsatisfied with the outcome.
Tusla โ Child and Family Agency
Child welfare and protection concerns, family support services, domestic violence services, foster care. If you believe a child is at risk, contact Tusla immediately.
- Website
- tusla.ie
- Report a concern
- tusla.ie โ Report a Concern
- Phone
- 0818 176 176
- Emergency (out of hours)
- 999 / 112
Women's Aid (Domestic Violence)
24-hour helpline for women experiencing domestic violence. Free, confidential, anonymous. Can help with safety planning, legal information, and refuge accommodation.
- Website
- womensaid.ie
- 24hr helpline
- 1800 341 900
- Cost
- Free and confidential
Template: Report a Concern to Tusla
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999/112 first. This template is for reporting welfare concerns through Tusla's formal process.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Industrial pollution, waste management, water contamination, air quality, noise from licensed facilities. The EPA can investigate, issue directions, and prosecute.
- Website
- epa.ie
- Report pollution
- Report to the EPA
- Phone
- 053 916 0600
An Bord Pleanรกla / Planning Authority
Planning objections, appeals against planning decisions, unauthorised development. Contact your local planning authority first, then appeal to An Bord Pleanรกla.
- Website
- pleanala.ie
- Cost
- โฌ20 to make a submission on a planning application; โฌ220 to appeal
Local Authority Environment Section
Illegal dumping, noise complaints (non-EPA), litter, water pollution from agriculture, septic tank issues. Contact your county or city council's environment section.
- Find yours
- gov.ie โ Local Authorities
Template: Report to the EPA
Use this to report pollution, illegal waste, or environmental damage from a licensed facility.
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC)
Discrimination on any of the 9 grounds (gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religion, membership of the Traveller community) in employment, services, education, or housing.
- Website
- ihrec.ie
- Phone
- 01 858 9601
- Cost
- Free
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)
Employment equality complaints โ discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, dismissal, or conditions on any protected ground. Also handles harassment and victimisation claims.
- Website
- workplacerelations.ie
- Phone
- 0818 80 80 90
- Time limit
- 6 months from incident
Template: Equality Complaint to the WRC
Use this for discrimination complaints in employment, services, education, or housing. Submit via the WRC online form.
The 9 grounds of discrimination in Irish law
- Gender
- Civil status (single, married, separated, divorced, widowed)
- Family status (parent or person acting in loco parentis)
- Age (does not apply to under-16s in employment)
- Disability (physical, intellectual, learning, emotional, mental health)
- Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins)
- Sexual orientation
- Religious belief (or lack thereof)
- Membership of the Traveller community