About this service:

A Parent Alone Resource Centre: a friendly, non-judgemental centre run with and for parents.

Information & Support: one-to-one help with housing, social welfare, parenting, disability and neurodivergence, education and employment. Help with forms, reviews and appeals.

Young Parent Support Programme, Early Years service (crèche), parenting programmes (Circle of Security, Parents Plus), community education and social groups. Teen programmes, when available.

Adult and adolescent counselling, play therapy for children, and family systemic therapy. Rainbows groups for children and young people after a bereavement or a separation.

Who can use it:

Lone parents and vulnerable families. Young Parent Support Programme for parents up to age 24. Greater Coolock area, including Bonnybrook, Darndale, Belcamp, Moatview, Priorswood, Kilmore, Edenmore, Kilbarrack and surrounding Dublin 5, 13 and 17.

How to access the service:

Self-referral accepted, by drop-in, phone or email. Professional referrals accepted from GPs, health professionals, schools and community organisations. No formal form for most services: phone, or use the contact form on the website. Counselling, play therapy and family systemic therapy are by internal referral within Doras Buí.

Opening hours:

Resource Centre: 9am to 5pm. Childcare Centre: 8.30am to 6pm.

Cost:

Information & Support is free. Most courses ask for a €10 donation. Workshops are free or €5. Family trips are €5 a head. Adult counselling (with student counsellors) is €10 a session, with no pressure if a person cannot pay.

Telephone and access details:

01 848 4811

Email contact details:

info@dorasbui.ie

Website information:

dorasbui.ie

Support for families of children with additional needs:

Louise Ryan, Family Support Advocate, works with families of children with additional needs: information, advocacy, help with forms such as Domiciliary Care Allowance and Assessment of Need, and linking families to services. No diagnosis is needed.

Doras Buí is part of the Parent Led Autism Network and hosts workshops and peer support for parents.

The sensory room is free to book. A family does not have to be registered with the centre. Ask at reception.

Good to know:

Hidden Harm fund: counselling and play therapy for children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 who are exposed to or affected by addiction. For families in Belmayne, Clongriffin and the New Belcamp area, with some flexibility for Dublin 13.

Rainbows: the parent or guardian fills in the expression of interest form. The Rainbows coordinator then gets in touch to enrol the child.

Same complex as Northside Partnership (Bunratty Drive), so a warm handover is easy.

Source directory last updated: October 2026. Contact the service to confirm current availability and details.