Living and Working in Ireland

Ireland

The population here has nearly reached 5 million with more than 40% of the population residing within a radius of 100 kilometers from Dublin, which is the capital of Ireland. 10% of Ireland’s workforce are now foreign nationals. It is located near the center of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey. The currency here is the Euro, which was introduced in the year 1999 as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries of the European Union and became the sole currency for everyday transactions here by the year 2002. Ireland is in the Western European Time Zone is known as the Western European Standard Time or WET which is the same time as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and changes to GMT + 1 in summer. There are nine public holidays in Ireland each year, among which are New Year's Day (1 January), St. Patrick's Day – the national holiday (17 March), Easter Monday, First Monday in the months of May, June and August, Last Monday in October, Christmas Day (25 December) and St. Stephen's Day (26 December); Good Friday is not a public holiday. Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Londonderry are a few other important cities.

The Emerald Isle is an island of contrasts. The Irish are known for their warmth and when this is added to the traditional 'craic', which is a musical performance, it makes your stay at Ireland even more memorable. From the bustling cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick in the Republic of Ireland and Belfast and Londonderry in Northern Ireland, to the picturesque countryside that lies in between, the sights one gets to see is breathtaking. Activities one can indulge in range from trekking on the hills to deep-sea diving or enjoying the scenic beauty of Ireland from the mountains, thanks to the varied and beautiful landscapes, meandering waterways of our rivers, and aesthetic monuments and castles of great historical significance. Ireland’s landscape has an abundance of historical and heritage sites ranging from the largest prehistoric monuments in the world to exceptionally luxurious castles. The country also is paradise for the 'foodie' with a variety of exotic sea food that you can sample, especially during the many food festivals that are organized round the year.

Ireland experienced a major economic boom for a period of 15+ years to 2007.  At one point unemployment was virtually non-existent. The Global economic crisis affected the countries economy most in 2009. Ireland has seen a steady recovery since 2010 again in the Export Led economy and some areas of Financial Services - specifically Insurance. The demand for skilled talent in ICT and Finance is growing again at a rapid pace and 2012 is set to see strong demand again for people coming from overseas.  

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Dublin Living Costs 

During the Boom years Dublin ranked in the top ten most expensive cities in the world in which to live, according to several surveys out this week with London, New York and Moscow. But - Dublin was found to have the 3rd highest net wages - only beaten by Zurich and Geneva. The “Prices and Earnings” study carried out by global banking and financial group UBS looked at purchasing power worldwide. The study, which is published every three years, revealed that Dublin had risen to the eighth most expensive city since the survey was last carried out in 2003.The research also compared how long it takes workers to earn enough money to pay for a Big Mac burger. In Nairobi, one and a half hours’ work is needed to buy the burger, while in the US cities of Los Angeles and New York a maximum of 13 minutes’ labour is needed. In Dublin it takes just 15 minutes of work to purchase it. Food costs the most in Tokyo.at €560 for a basket of 39 food items, while the basket in Dublin costs €373, €367 in London and €430 in New York. Public transport in general was most expensive in Western Europe. While the price of a single ticket for a train journey of 200 kilometres was only €31 in Dublin, it was €70.75 in London. In New York it was €40.70. The bill for a three-course restaurant meal was €50 in London, €38.80 in New York and €41.10 in Dublin. Dublin came out quite well in this survey - showing that prices are not as bad as people think - especially when you take earnings levels into account.  In 2009 the cost of living is cheaper in Dublin as Rent, eating out and consumables in general have been visibly reduced to keep the economy moving.

Useful links:

www.revenue.ie – for Taxation

www.daft.ie – for rentals and prices of accommodation

www.entertainment.ie – going out

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Taxation 

Tax Rates and Tax Bands

How to get PPS Number

In Ireland the PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) is a personal reference number that allows you to gain access to social welfare benefits and services in Ireland. It is the equivalent of the National Insurance number in the UK. Without a PPS number you will not be able to get a job or any state Benefits. It is used for Taxation purposes too. You also need a PPS number to get an Irish driving license.

It used to be known as the RSI number.

You cannot apply for a PPS Number before you move to Ireland. You must be already living in Ireland in order to get your PPS Number.

The nearest Social Welfare office will assist you with the registration process. You will be asked to produce evidence of identity and residence in Ireland. If you are not Irish, you will need to produce the following documents when getting a PPS number:

a) Your passport or national identity card Or Your Immigration Card

b) Evidence of your Irish address, such as a household bill (ESB, telephone, gas, etc.) in your name.

Do not pay anyone to apply for a PPS number for you - it is a simple process that is free to everyone.

For more information you can phone the Department of Social and Family Affairs at (00- 353-1-704 3236) 

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Opening a Bank Account

Opening a Bank account in a new country can be a time consuming and wearisome exercise. However there are some basic rules that apply and these will hopefully ease your transition into the country. You must bring along 2 forms of photo ID - the obvious ones are best - Passport and Drivers Licence along with proof of an address. Here again, stick to the basics, Utility Bills like Phone or Electricity. It can take up to 3 working days to sort out, so make sure you have access to cash in the interim offer letter as evidence of your intention to live and work in Ireland. If you are a candidate of Recruiters, we will happily furnish a letter to say you have registered with us and that you are actively looking for work. 
The major banks in Ireland are Bank of Ireland, AIB, Permanent TSB, Halifax.

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Accommodation in Ireland

2009 has seen a reduction in rents across the country.   You may be pleasantly surprised at what you can afford.

In Dublin, the south-side continues to command the highest rents, with Dublin 2, 4 and 6 being the most expensive areas in which to rent residential property. Prices can range from 700 euro a month for a studio/bedsit , to 1000 euro for a one bedroomed apartment or to 1300 for a 2 bed apartment. A 3 or 4 bedroomed house in Dublin 8 can cost from 1400 to 1800 euro a month.
Areas like Ballsbridge, the city centre south of the Liffey and Rathmines remain ever popular among Dublin tenants. Lower rents and better availability can be found in West County Dublin, in places like Lucan and Blanchardstown, which have a large number of rental properties.

Rents in County Kildare - being close to Dublin - are fairly high 3-bed semis are renting for around €900, while two-bed apartments can be up to €850 per month, depending on the location and condition of the property.

In Cork City - rental prices are about 750 euro a month for one bed apartments up to 980 for a 3 bed house and 1400 for a 4 bedroomed house.
In counties Cavan and Monaghan a 3 or 4 bed roomed house can be rented for €800 per month. In County Meath - in places like Enfield which is in the Dublin commuter belt a typical three-bed would cost from €850 to €950 per month. In the west of Ireland in County Clare - towns like Ennis are growing steadily and rents for a four-bedroom semi-detached home is around €850 to €900 per month.

You'll need to bear in mind that house sizes are likely to be different to where you currently live and that not all electrical appliances can be used here. Mains electricity is supplied at 220 Volts (50 cycles per second). Plugs are flat with three pins. You need an adapter to convert to the correct plus size and a transformer to convert American appliances (except for dual-voltage equipment, which only needs an adapter). Certain appliances, such as electrical clocks, will not work even with a transformer. Cordless telephones may not work, video formats may be different, and televisions that do work will still be of limited use, because broadcasting standards differ from country to country. Have a look at www.daft.ie for more information on accommodation in Ireland.

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What to Wear

To determine what clothes to take with you, remember that the coldest months are January and February, with mean daily air temperatures of four to seven degrees Celsius. The warmest months are July and August with mean temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees Celsius; the sunniest are May and June, averaging five to seven hours of sunshine per day. It also rains all year round! You should write a checklist of all the things you need to do before you leave and start keeping a separate note of Irish contact details. For example, you may want to note that the Irish emergency number is 999. Calls to these services are free of charge. You ask the operator for the emergency service you require e.g. Fire, Gardaí (Police), Ambulance. When the emergency service answers, state the address or location at which help is needed.

Remember - when it comes to interviewing - always wear a conservative suit no matter what the weather is suggesting.  So far Summer 2009 has been quite warm, bright and pleasant!

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