Thinking of moving to Ireland
Discussion
Hammerwerfer said:
The Taoiseach is paid more that O'Bama and the TDs have just given themselves a €3000 pay rise.
Meanwhile the rest of us are being told that times are tough and we have to pay more taxes and put up with less public services.
Makes a lot of sense. Sort of like Charlie Haughey telling the populace to tighten our belts not that long ago.
The politicians and civil servants are a law unto themselves.
OMG that could almost be Britain. Are ministers husbands/wives buying porno on expences yet? If not, you have a lot to learn.Meanwhile the rest of us are being told that times are tough and we have to pay more taxes and put up with less public services.
Makes a lot of sense. Sort of like Charlie Haughey telling the populace to tighten our belts not that long ago.
The politicians and civil servants are a law unto themselves.
ked - to the point where the author suggested that it would be the first Euro country to be declared bankrupt.Hammerwerfer said:
If you lose your job here, the dole is €204...
Not for recent immigrants. You need to build up PRSI (NI equivalent) contributions. Still, the reduced rates are probably better than in the UK.Anyway, good luck if you can find a job.
Life is very different here than in the south of England. Been here four years or so, and still adjusting.
People are less rude, and the whining is better natured.
If I could pick anywhere, it would be somewhere like West Cork. The south east is pretty dull, scenery wise (I have family in Wexford).
The economy is completely screwed. Govt budget this year likely to be €60bn against revenues of €30bn.
Public sector pay is good, but you often need Irish.
Don't talk about car taxes. I went from a garage full of fine machinery to a driveway full of Jap sh!tboxes.
HundredthIdiot said:
Public sector pay is good, but you often need Irish.
I'm a social worker in a hospital team, would not consider moving until I had secured a postHundredthIdiot said:
Don't talk about car taxes. I went from a garage full of fine machinery to a driveway full of Jap sh!tboxes.
I have a Mondeo! Quite used to not-fine machinery!!Cheers for the input everyone
HundredthIdiot said:
Public sector pay is good, but you often need Irish.
Nuts isn't it? In the six months I've been back, I have heard one sentence of Irish spoken. The fellow who did so had to repeat himself in English in order to get a train ticket!I've heard plenty of Polish, Gerrman, Chinese and the like though.
More people speak Polish in Ireland than speak Irish!
I moved over from Southampton to Dublin 22 months ago. My wife is from Dublin originally and we just fancied a change of scenery. I stayed with my employer, same kind of job just a different product. She is a nurse so her job is needed everywhere!
Loved it at first. Enjoyed being in a vibrant city where there was never a shortage of anything to do. However, what I have found is that there's a *lot* of small issues which do build up. For instance:
Loved it at first. Enjoyed being in a vibrant city where there was never a shortage of anything to do. However, what I have found is that there's a *lot* of small issues which do build up. For instance:
- Customer service is largely non-existant. Trying to get anything done on the end of a phone (e.g. sorting out a tax rebate) is impossible. A lot of retail staff just don't give a ****. This ain't so great in the UK either, but Ireland is worse. I've given up trying to ask for something once. The first time elicits a response of "What?" Second time if they don't understand they just decide for you. "Butter or Mayo?" Neither thanks. Cue huge dollop of mayo on my sandwich.
- Car expenses. I imported my ten year old V6 Mondy because I didn't want to buy a new car in Ireland (too expensive) or import a new one (VRT) I just paid my yearly car tax of €1120. Petrol is now at UK prices thanks to the exchange rate, but diesel is 10c cheaper than petrol!
- The people. This may be controversial. By and large, the Irish are a friendly bunch, but they also have some traits which cause consternation. For example, the general disregarding of driving standards and following of rules. Most evident by spending 15 minutes watching people parking at a shopping centre like Liffey Valley. Ignore the one-way system to get that space 20 spaces down the row? Check. Park in the disabled bays to pop into Starbucks for ten minutes? Check. Sit outside the entrance whilst your velour tracksuited wife and kids go shopping? Check. Exit via the entrance because it will save you 30 seconds? Check. All sound like little things, and you'll see the odd person do them in the UK, but here it is completely normal.
I've often considered moving there myself as my wife is Irish.
To me it seems like a good idea, but with some drawbacks.
The country is more laid back than say, the South East of England and people are certainly more friendly (more so out of Dublin). If you are going just for a slower pace of life it may be worth seeing if you can get work in the west of England, West Wales or various other parts of the UK.
I think it is a good place to raise a family as there is a greater emphasis on family. This is due to the stronger presence of religion and cultural differences. Sport is played more with youngsters, which is good. Divorce is way lower than the UK. It just comes across as being more traditional to me.
The Irish complain about the cost of living and rightly so. Food, clothes, alcohol and car tax are expensive. This often makes Ireland appear very expensive to tourists as they will spend alot of money on food and Guiness. In reality, these are still significant costs but they are slightly offset by not having to pay for council tax. Petrol was cheper before the exchange rate changed so signifficantly and diesel does not cost more, as it does here (not that anyone drives a diesel on here).
Cars are much more expensive over there because of the VRT charge on bringing a car into the country. However, this could work to your advantage as you would be able to avoid paying VRT as a one off on the frst car you bring with you. As mentioned earlier, some roads are pretty bad, but it depends on what county you are in. I've spent alot of time in Meath where the roads are terrible, always covered in grime and pot holed. With this in mind, I've always thought that the perfect car for those roads would be some sort of rally bred 4WD, with softer suspension or a two car set-up.
I'd go if it weren't for the fact that getting a job is a nightmare (I'm a teacher and this career is much more highly regarded, as it is in many other countries outside of the UK).
To me it seems like a good idea, but with some drawbacks.
The country is more laid back than say, the South East of England and people are certainly more friendly (more so out of Dublin). If you are going just for a slower pace of life it may be worth seeing if you can get work in the west of England, West Wales or various other parts of the UK.
I think it is a good place to raise a family as there is a greater emphasis on family. This is due to the stronger presence of religion and cultural differences. Sport is played more with youngsters, which is good. Divorce is way lower than the UK. It just comes across as being more traditional to me.
The Irish complain about the cost of living and rightly so. Food, clothes, alcohol and car tax are expensive. This often makes Ireland appear very expensive to tourists as they will spend alot of money on food and Guiness. In reality, these are still significant costs but they are slightly offset by not having to pay for council tax. Petrol was cheper before the exchange rate changed so signifficantly and diesel does not cost more, as it does here (not that anyone drives a diesel on here).
Cars are much more expensive over there because of the VRT charge on bringing a car into the country. However, this could work to your advantage as you would be able to avoid paying VRT as a one off on the frst car you bring with you. As mentioned earlier, some roads are pretty bad, but it depends on what county you are in. I've spent alot of time in Meath where the roads are terrible, always covered in grime and pot holed. With this in mind, I've always thought that the perfect car for those roads would be some sort of rally bred 4WD, with softer suspension or a two car set-up.
I'd go if it weren't for the fact that getting a job is a nightmare (I'm a teacher and this career is much more highly regarded, as it is in many other countries outside of the UK).
A couple more things to add. Living in Dublin (or probably Cork) as a "foreigner" is fine, but I'd have serious doubts about living anywhere else. I have family on my mother's side in Wexford and one you leave the major conurbations things get very, very different. Unless you are looking for that way of life, I wouldn't think about trying to live and build a career in the country.
Also, infrastructure. Yes, the roads can be good, but they can also be downright awful. I've had to replace more than one tyre due to potholes since being here. No competition for utilities (Well, actually Bord Gais have started doing leccy, so you have two semi-state sponsored suppliers in "competition") and unless you are in a big town/city, broadband is patchy at best and there's no way you'll get anything over 8MB anywhere. It might sound trivial, but if you enjoy the ability to use things like iPlayer, they don't work over here. Even though you can get BBC on Sky/Cable and even pick up Radio 5 on MW in the car!
Also, infrastructure. Yes, the roads can be good, but they can also be downright awful. I've had to replace more than one tyre due to potholes since being here. No competition for utilities (Well, actually Bord Gais have started doing leccy, so you have two semi-state sponsored suppliers in "competition") and unless you are in a big town/city, broadband is patchy at best and there's no way you'll get anything over 8MB anywhere. It might sound trivial, but if you enjoy the ability to use things like iPlayer, they don't work over here. Even though you can get BBC on Sky/Cable and even pick up Radio 5 on MW in the car!
I'm sure it is a lovely place but the racket is over, and the only way they can support their political class and the hangers on is through high taxation. It makes Britain seem like a tax haven. It will slowly transform itself back into what it was before the 'Celtic Tiger' era. Go once the pain's past, when they have had their national bankruptcy, and property prices and taxes have settled to a more rational level.
cardigankid said:
I'm sure it is a lovely place but the racket is over, and the only way they can support their political class and the hangers on is through high taxation. It makes Britain seem like a tax haven.
Not if you're on a low income. The bottom 40%-odd don't pay any tax at all, the minimum wage is the second highest in Europe, and the dole is €200 a week.It'll be interesting to see how much of this they can hold on to now the chips are down, without there being rioting in the streets, or at least some of this:
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