I see now you've two threads. What has happened here is typical with letting agents. They get the big finders fee, have you snookered with a contract and have diddly squat interest in managing it properly now. Instead of the agent making your life easier, for which you are paying them, they are playing cat and mouse with you. I used to work with a connecting office to an estate agent and the managment of tenants was quite an experience. Repairs carried out willy nilly, expensive bills, rents not lodged on time. They were though good at getting out non paying tenants (two big men) but only after some weeks had passed, landlord paying for everything. Good luck with a new agent.
If I might suggest, have you a reliable family member to manage this for you. The tenant can pay you the rent by DD, but you pay your relation same as you pay the estate agent, you do this even if they do nothing, I have one family member that won't go near one of my tenants so the tenant doesn't ask him for anything, (has a look periodically of course- anyway neighbours would be on to us if anything was going on) family in there about 3 or 4 years now, kids play with neighbourts, but good tenants, that means money on time and keeps the house well, they even cut the grass (Bronte is impressed with this) !
There is another forum, irish landlord .ie I think, you might want to look at that. Alternatively there is the landlord representative body called IPOA, they are helpful (I am a member).