Irish Refugee Council

What Irish Refugee Council does

The Irish Refugee Council is an independent, Dublin-based non-profit organisation registered as a charity in Ireland (CHY Number: 10153, Registered Charity Number: 20025724), founded in 1992, providing humanitarian and legal services to people seeking international protection, recognised refugees, and beneficiaries of temporary protection in Ireland. Its service portfolio comprises six core programmes: an Information and Advocacy Service, a General Helpline and Ukrainian Language Helpline, an Education Programme (grants and college-access advocacy), an Independent Law Centre (registered with the Law Society of Ireland) providing free legal representation across the international protection process, a Ukraine Response team, and a Policy and Advocacy function. Operationally, the IRC handled 8,989 email queries, 3,940 helpline calls, and 858 homelessness cases in 2024 and has supported over 9,000 Ukraine-response beneficiaries since April 2022. The organisation does not charge beneficiaries for its services; revenue derives entirely from donations, public fundraising, and membership contributions, with no disclosed funding rounds, debt instruments, or institutional grants in the source data.

The IRC's underlying technology layer is intentionally minimal: client data is stored in a password-protected Salesforce CRM and on locked paper files, with Mailchimp handling newsletter automation and GDPR-compliant consent management. Strategic capability is concentrated in three reinforcing domains: (i) regulated legal practice through the Independent Law Centre, which has driven landmark litigation including CJEU case C-97/24 and High Court damages awards totalling €15,500 to two Afghan clients in February 2026; (ii) coalition-led policy advocacy via founding membership of the 16+ NGO Coalition on the EU Migration Pact and joint submissions with FEANTSA, Focus Ireland, FLAC, Community Law and Mediation, Mercy Law Resource Centre, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission; and (iii) data-led public reporting through 14 editions of the AIDA report and ongoing monitoring of the protection accommodation crisis (over 10,000 homeless applicants since January 2023). The IRC operates a single headquarters in Dublin 1, employs 11-50 staff, and serves beneficiaries within Ireland only.

Name

Irish Refugee Council

Legal name

Irish Refugee Council

Website

https://irishrefugeecouncil.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Irish Refugee Council (founded 1992, Dublin) is an independent Irish charity providing free legal representation, helpline support, education grants, and policy advocacy to refugees, international protection applicants, and beneficiaries of temporary protection in Ireland, with an Independent Law Centre registered with the Law Society of Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Support Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Refugee support services
• Asylum legal aid
• Humanitarian advocacy
• Refugee integration support
• Community sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The Irish Refugee Council is a registered charity (CHY Number: 10153, Registered Charity Number: 20025724) that raises funds from the public through its website donate page, fundraising campaigns, and direct appeals to support its charitable purpose.
2. Membership: The organisation offers a membership programme as a way for supporters to engage financially and structurally with the Irish Refugee Council's work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Irish Refugee Council is an independent non-profit organisation founded in 1992 that provides free information, advocacy, legal representation, education grants and integration support to refugees, asylum seekers and people in the international protection process in Ireland. It also engages in policy advocacy at national and EU level, operates dedicated helplines (including a Ukrainian-language helpline), and runs a Community Sponsorship Programme that places refugees in local communities.

Product overview

The Irish Refugee Council is a refugee support organization offering a portfolio of services organized around direct client support, legal representation, education, and advocacy. Core offerings include the Information and Advocacy Service handling email queries, a General Helpline and Ukrainian Language Helpline, an Education Programme with grants and policy advocacy, and an Independent Law Centre providing legal representation. Additional services include the Ukraine Response team, Community Sponsorship Programme, and Policy and Advocacy work. The organization also produces publications and real stories as content resources for public awareness and advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Information and Advocacy Service
• General Helpline and Ukrainian Language Helpline
• Independent Law Centre
• Education Programme
• Ukraine Response
• Community Sponsorship Programme
• Policy and Advocacy

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 people have experienced homelessness since January 2023 due to the State's failure to accommodate protection applicants on arrival. The Irish Refugee Council has supported 1,746 of those experiencing homelessness since January 2023.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026FLAC, Ireland's independent legal, human rights and equality organisation, partnered with the Irish Refugee Council, Community Law and Mediation, Mercy Law Resource Centre, and the Immigrant Council of Ireland to issue joint warnings about the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. The five Independent Law Centres expressed grave concerns that the Bill's residency requirements for access to homelessness accommodation would disproportionately harm non-Irish nationals and migrant communities, potentially increasing rough-sleeping and destitution.
• Community Law and Mediation (CLM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Community Law and Mediation, an independent community law centre with centres in Coolock and Limerick, co-authored the June 2026 letter to the Oireachtas Housing Committee with FLAC, Mercy Law Resource Centre, Immigrant Council of Ireland, and the Irish Refugee Council. CLM raised concerns about the disproportionate impact of the Housing Bill on minority ethnic and migrant communities, including migrant workers, victims of trafficking, and domestic violence survivors.
• Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Mercy Law Resource Centre, an independent law centre providing free legal advice to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, co-signed the June 2026 warning about the Housing Bill. MLRC highlighted concerns about the Bill's compliance with human rights law, EU law, and Irish Constitutional Law, and the risk of harmful consequences for households in need of State support.
• Immigrant Council of IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026The Immigrant Council of Ireland, a human rights organisation and Independent Law Centre, joined the June 2026 joint statement on the Housing Bill alongside FLAC, CLM, MLRC, and the Irish Refugee Council. The Council noted its direct experience advocating for immigrant communities' rights and highlighted the Bill's potential adverse effects on this population.
• FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations working with Homeless People)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2025FEANTSA, together with its members CAW Groep in Belgium, Focus Ireland, and the Irish Refugee Council, issued a joint statement welcoming the CJEU ruling of 1 August 2025 confirming that EU Member States cannot invoke mass influx to justify failing to provide basic reception conditions to asylum seekers. The joint statement calls for restrictive migration policies not to generate homelessness and for the right to housing to be recognised as a fundamental human right.
• Focus IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2025Focus Ireland co-signed the December 2025 joint statement with FEANTSA and the Irish Refugee Council on dignified reception conditions for people seeking international protection, alongside Belgian CAW members. The partnership addresses the intersection of homelessness among Irish citizens and international protection applicants.
• Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2024IHREC brought separate High Court proceedings on behalf of a group of unaccommodated international protection applicants, seeking a declaration that the State's failure to provide for their basic needs breached the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Irish Constitution. IHREC was granted leave to appeal the Court of Appeal's ruling to the Supreme Court (March 2026 hearing). IHREC's separate proceedings complemented the Irish Refugee Council Law Centre's individual client cases.
• Irish Homelessness Policy GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2024The Irish Refugee Council is a member of the Irish Homelessness Policy Group, a coalition of 11 organisations supporting and advocating for homeless people. The group published '10 Key Actions to End Homelessness' and works to address the joint crises of homelessness among international protection applicants and in housing more generally.
• Coalition on the EU Migration PactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Irish Refugee Council is a founding member of the Coalition on the EU Migration Pact, a coalition of 16+ Irish NGOs working to ensure Ireland's approach to transposing and implementing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is transparent, equitable, rights-centred, and aligned with Irish values. Members include: Irish Refugee Council, Doras, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Irish Penal Reform Trust, Jesuit Refugee Service, Nasc the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre, LGBT Ireland, Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, Spirasi, Irish Network Against Racism, Sanctuary Runners, Crosscare, Oxfam Ireland, Akidwa, ActionAid. The coalition conducts joint policy submissions, media statements, and advocacy campaigns on issues including detention of children, family reunification restrictions, legal aid resourcing, and Garda powers.
• Department of Justice (Ireland)minorOthersThe Irish Refugee Council makes submissions, statements, and representations to the Department of Justice to further clients' applications for international protection, family reunification, or other needs. The organisation also refers clients to other local service providers with their consent. The relationship involves regulated data sharing under GDPR and explicit client consent.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC): Ireland's national human rights institution that brings High Court proceedings on behalf of marginalised groups, including unaccommodated international protection applicants. Direct peer in strategic litigation on refugee rights and partner on the 2024 May joint civil society statement.
• Doras: Midwest Ireland-based NGO supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers through information, advocacy and integration services. Coalition on the EU Migration Pact co-member and direct service peer with similar refugee-rights mandate.
• Nasc the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre: Ireland-based migrant and refugee rights organisation operating in Cork, providing legal services, advocacy and integration support. Direct peer with overlapping service offerings and Coalition on the EU Migration Pact co-membership.
• FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres): Ireland's independent legal and human rights organisation providing free legal advice. Direct peer in the Independent Law Centre space, partnering with the IRC on the June 2026 Housing Bill warning and broader civil society statements.
• Mercy Law Resource Centre: Independent Dublin-based law centre providing free legal advice to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Direct peer on the homelessness-protection-applicant intersection, partnering on the June 2026 joint letter.
• Immigrant Council of Ireland: An independent law centre and human rights organisation in Ireland providing legal advice and advocacy for immigrants. Direct peer to the IRC's Independent Law Centre, frequently co-signing joint statements on migrant rights legislation and sharing the same beneficiary population.
• Jesuit Refugee Service Ireland: An international Jesuit organisation operating in Ireland with a focus on accompaniment, advocacy and direct service to refugees and asylum seekers, including detained migrants. Direct peer serving the same beneficiary base through casework and policy advocacy.
• Community Law and Mediation: Independent community law centre with offices in Coolock and Limerick offering free legal services to disadvantaged communities. Direct peer in the Independent Law Centre network, frequently collaborating on migrant-rights advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Danish Refugee Council: A leading international NGO with operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, providing protection, advocacy and durable solutions for refugees. Broad incumbent peer operating globally with significantly larger footprint and resources than the IRC.
• British Refugee Council: The UK's largest independent refugee charity, providing advice, advocacy and support across the asylum process. Broader incumbent peer with a comparable mandate (legal representation, advocacy, integration) but operating at significantly greater scale across the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IrishRefugeeCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/IrishRefugeeCo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irish-refugee-council

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Irish Refugee Council