Asylum Seeker and Refugee Counselling and Support Service (ARCSS)

ARCSS is a free counselling and support service for adult Asylum Seekers and Refugees who have experienced trauma in their country of origin or who are having difficulty with the transition to living in Ireland.

From April 2000, a policy of Direct Provision and dispersal was introduced by the Dept. of Justice. This entailed settling people seeking asylum in accommodation centres and hostels around the country, whereby they are provided with food and shelter and given €19.10 per week. In August 2004, the CCST signed a service agreement with NEHB to facilitate the establishment of the Asylum Seeker & Refugee Counselling Support Service (ARCSS) and the project has been operational since September 2004 as a partnership between SPIRASI and the HSE.

The overall aim of the ARCSS project is to provide a dedicated counselling and psychological support service to asylum seekers and refugees in the HSE North Eastern Area. The project was originally set up to refer people into counselling who had suffered trauma in their country of origin but was later extended to include people that were traumatised by going through the asylum process in Ireland.

The ARCSS Project is based in Mosney Accommodation Centre, the largest accommodation centre in the country. Mosney is approximately 48 km north of Dublin in Co. Meath and is currently home to almost 700 residents from over 50 different countries. There is a Project Worker on site to offer support on matters relating to the asylum process, access to information and integration issues, also providing advocacy, mediation and referral into counselling.

Counselling is provided by qualified counsellor/therapists employed on a contract basis under the management and supervision of Rian Counselling Service (HSE). At present there are 3 counsellors providing counselling to the project. The counsellors are based in Drogheda and meet the clients outside the accommodation centre, using interpreters when necessary. ARCSS counselling provides the opportunity to explore past experiences in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental place with qualified health care professionals.