What services does FLAC provide?

What services does FLAC provide?

FLAC get mentioned here from time to time. I am wondering who are FLAC, what services to they provide and on what basis and to whom are such services provided.

Also a statutory body called the "[broken link removed]" exists. What is their function? What services do they provide and to whom?

Any use?

OASIS -
OASIS -

Flac are a free legal advice service which operate out of their headquarters in the city centre and through the citizens infomation services throughout the country. There are 2 or three permanent staff with the rest of the work being done by volunteer solicitors. Clinics are usually held at the Citizens information centres, usually once or twice a month. It s a free referral service for those who cannot afford a private solicitor. Flac solicitors do not take on files or process any legal work, they provide first stop advice only.

The legal aid board is a statutory body that administers the civil legal aid scheme. It has a large permanent staff and handles cases, mostly family law, on behalf of qualifying clients. This service is not free but is means tested with fairly low fees applying depending on the client's means

This is lifted from FLAC's home page.

Credit and Debt Law
Responding to the increased need for information and advice on credit and debt issues and the shortage of legal practitioners involved in advising the over-indebted, FLAC has become increasingly involved in Credit and Debt Law.
Acting as a legal resource, FLAC offers a variety of services to money advisors and members of the public.
Through the use of publications, FLAC aims to provide useful information on rights and entitlements.
[broken link removed], a practical guide to the revised law on licensed money lending brought about by the Consumer Credit Act 1995, was published in February 1998.
[broken link removed], a comprehensive report on consumer credit and debt in Ireland was published in May 2003.

Social Welfare
The FLAC headquarters operates a telephone advice line on social welfare rights and entitlements.
FLAC also challenges Irish laws and governmental policies in a variety of social welfare areas.
Policy submissions have been made on the issues of Supplementary Welfare Allowance and the operation of the nursing home subvention scheme.

Public Interest / Human Rights
In order to achieve its objectives to attain full and equal status to justice for all, FLAC brings test cases to court. A test case involves challenging existing legislation for the use of legislation with a view to amending the law for the benefit of everyone affected.

Contact Details
Free Legal Advice Centres
13, Lower Dorset Street
Dublin 1
Tel: (01) 874 5690
Fax: (01) 874 5320
E-mail: info@flac.ie

Telephone referral / information line
The helpline is here to ensure that you get the right information about your general rights and entitlements. It is available to individuals, local organisations, advice agencies and social workers during office hours, Monday to Friday.
The number to ring is: (01) 874 5690.