Freedom Of Information Act 2003

Many young people in care while in residential care have had access to look at what has been written in their daily logs and have been encouraged to give their signature if they agree with what is written or to add a comment if they disagree with what has been written.

When young people are in aftercare they may be offered an opportunity to look at their file with the support of the social worker or other persons within the HSE. If young people in aftercare have not had the opportunity to look at information on their file and wish to do they may choose to access information on their file through the Freedom Of Information Act.

The Freedom of Information Act allows people access to information that is held on file about them. Permission has to be sought from 3rd party individuals who may have completed report, assessments etc about you. (Get Factual INFO)

Free Legal Aid Board

The Legal Aid Board is responsible for the provision of legal aid and advice on matters of civil law to persons unable to fund such services from their own resources. They also provide services to people applying for asylum in Ireland.

The Legal Aid Board does not provide legal aid in criminal matters.

The Board’s services are provided by a variety of means including a network of thirty three full time law centres located throughout the country and a number of other part time law centres

Contact us at: www.legalaidboard.ie

Free Legal Advice Centre

This is a group of solicitors and legal professionals who give free legal advice to memebers of the public. They can usually be contact through local branches of the Citizens Information Bureau for appointments. See below for more information:

FLAC is an independent human rights organisation dedicated to the realisation of equal access to justice for all. To this end it campaigns on a range of legal issues but also offers some basic, free legal services to the public.

FLAC currently concentrates its work on four main areas: Legal Aid, Social Welfare, Credit & Debt and Public Interest Law. More information on our current work in all these areas is also available in the current campaigns section and in the policy section.

Contact FLAC at: http://www.flac.ie/

Free Legal Advice Centres,

13 Lower Dorset Street,

Dublin 1,

Ireland

Information & Referral Line: 1890 350 250

Tel: +353 1 8745690

Fax: +353 1 8745320

Guardianship Law

Guardianship gives you parental rights as a father, in relation to your children and decisions relating to them if you are not married to your children’s mother.