Free Public Services
Find Free Support
These services exist. They are publicly funded. They are free to access. This page describes what they are and how to reach them.
These services exist. They are publicly funded. They are free to access. This page describes what they are and how to reach them.
The title of this page is unusual. It was chosen deliberately. A "career changer" is someone who looks at where they are and decides to move toward something different. That is, precisely, what reaching out for debt support requires.
This page lists free, publicly funded services in Ireland and the EU. We describe what each one does in plain terms. We do not recommend one over another. We do not tell you which is right for your situation — that is not something we are qualified to assess. What we can do is make sure the information is here, clearly presented, without pressure.
Important: The information below is for general reference only. Service details, contact information, and availability may change. Always verify directly with the organisation. This is not financial advice.
Money Advice and Budgeting Service
MABS is a free, confidential, and independent service for people in debt or at risk of getting into debt in Ireland. It is funded by the Citizens Information Board. MABS advisers work with people to understand their financial situation, explore options, and negotiate with creditors where appropriate.
Helpline: 0818 07 2000 (Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm)
mabs.ie
Local offices throughout Ireland
Insolvency Service of Ireland
The Insolvency Service of Ireland administers formal personal insolvency arrangements under Irish law. These are legal processes for people who are unable to repay their debts. The ISI provides information about Debt Relief Notices, Debt Settlement Arrangements, and Personal Insolvency Arrangements.
Lo-call: 0818 440 440
isi.gov.ie
Smithfield, Dublin 7
Free Legal Advice Centres
FLAC provides free basic legal information and guidance through a network of clinics across Ireland. For people dealing with debt-related legal questions — court proceedings, enforcement actions, or consumer credit issues — FLAC can provide a first point of contact before formal legal representation is needed.
Information line: 1800 350 250
flac.ie
Clinics nationwide
Public Information Service
Citizens Information provides comprehensive information about rights, entitlements, and services in Ireland, including detailed guidance on debt, consumer rights, and what happens when people cannot pay. The service is free and available online, by phone, and in person at local centres.
Phone: 0818 07 4000
citizensinformation.ie
Centres throughout Ireland
For people with debts that cross EU borders, or for those who want to understand their rights under European consumer law.
European Consumer Centre Ireland
ECC Ireland is part of the European Consumer Centres Network, which operates across all EU member states plus Iceland and Norway. It provides free advice and assistance to consumers who have disputes with traders in other EU countries — including cross-border debt and credit issues.
eccireland.ie
Contact via online form at eccireland.ie
Financial Dispute Resolution Network
FIN-NET is the European network for out-of-court resolution of consumer complaints about financial services. If a financial dispute involves a provider in another EU country, FIN-NET can connect you to the relevant national alternative dispute resolution body — without the need for court proceedings.
ec.europa.eu/fin-net
Access via European Commission website
Your EU
The European Commission's "Your EU" portal provides plain-language information about consumer rights across the EU, including credit agreements, debt collection practices, and what protections apply when dealing with cross-border financial matters. It is a publicly funded information resource.
europa.eu/youreurope
Available in all EU official languages
Career transitions — whether voluntary or not — are among the most common triggers for financial difficulty. A period of retraining, a move into self-employment, a redundancy, or a deliberate shift toward lower-paid but more meaningful work: all of these create periods where income is uncertain and obligations continue.
The services listed above are not only for people in crisis. They are for people navigating change. MABS, in particular, works with people who are not yet in serious debt but can see it approaching — and early contact tends to produce more options than late contact.
This page exists because the information about free support is scattered across multiple websites, written in different registers, and often buried beneath more commercially prominent paid services. Gathering it in one place, without commercial interest, is the purpose of this project.