Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2015 1:27:49 GMT
If you're planning to move to Ireland, this information will save you time, money and hassles.
It is not, however, an exhaustive guide to all aspects of Irish life. Rather, it concentrates on those things of most concern to Irish immigrants.
And this page? Gotta start somewhere....
Ireland
Population:
7 million cows, 8 million sheep, 4 million people. More than a third of the people live in the Dublin area.
Area:
70,282 sq.km There's plenty of open space once you get out of the five main cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford.
Geography:
Ireland is an island. You can't get more than 150 miles from the sea. The place is WET! If you're not near a beach, then a lake or river isn't far. The Ordnance Survey of Ireland has steet maps and topographical maps of everywhere in Ireland available for sale here.
Location:
The key thing about Ireland's location is that Britain is close. In fact, the northeast 6 counties of Ireland are part of the United Kingdom. This is the part of the island that always made the news back when bombings were a daily occurence. Meanwhile, the peaceful and quiet 26 counties that make up the Republic of Ireland are what this site is about.
Peace in the North
People hear the word Ireland and still remember bombs and the peace process. Ireland is really two places - Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Republic is the South, the 26 counties where peace has reigned for 90 plus years. The goings on up North do not affect the South save as a daily drumbeat of background news. The South is probably one of the most peaceful places on the planet.
Happily, up North things are looking up. A political settlement has been reached. Peace reigns and normality is, finally, normal. The North has become a popular travel spot for southerners. My wife and I spent a week there and can vouch for the warm welcome and value for money.
Language:
English is the language everyone speaks, but there's been an official push for decades to encourage the use of the traditional Celtic language called Gaelic. This is the everyday language in small bits of Ireland and you'll also find that road signs, television and radio use both languages. A fair percentage of the populace has some French, German, and more rarely, Spanish.
Currency:
Ireland's official currency is now the Euro. The Euro is not only Ireland's money, but works equally well in Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, and Portugal and, eventually all the newly entered eastern EU states like Poland and Estonia once they reach the required monetary targets.
Climate:
Not bad. Moderate year round with winter temperatures averaging 39 F and summer 61 F. It does rain a fair bit, but the weather is so changeable that a day that begins with showers often slides into sunshine.
Government:
Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. For the past three decades various coalitions of parties have ruled in turn. But, policy is notably stable since the populace is fairly uniform in its background and outlook.
Social Welfare:
Everyone working in Ireland or dealing with the government in any way (welfare, child benefits, health system) requires a Personal Public Service (PPS) number. All employees and self-employed workers who are aged 16 or over are liable for the Universal Service Charge. This newly instituted tax includes Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, which are made up of Social Insurance, Health and Employment Levies. The Service Charge includes a pension levy which doesn't really go toward pensions but is a fancy name for another tax. Information on Social Welfare (Allowances, pensions, children etc.) is available from the Department of Social Welfare.
New residents of Ireland don't qualify for most social welfare payments. You have to be living here for two years before you can receive goodies like the children's allowance or many other benefits.
Tax:
The short version is this for 2012:
Single & Widowed Persons: No Dependent Children 2012
€
20% on first 32,800
40% on balance
Single & Widowed Persons: Dependent Children
20% on first 36,800
40% on balance
Married Couples: One Income
20% on first 41,800
40% on balance
Married Couples: Two Incomes*
20% on first 65,600
40% on balance
* Excess over €41,800 (2011) non transferable between spouses
Income Levy -Replaced in 2012 with Universal Social Charge
2% on first 75,036
4% 99,944
6% on incomes over
Personal Tax Credit
Single Person 1,650
Married Couple/Single Parent 3,300
Widow(er) with dependent children
1st year of bereavement;
Year 2 €3,150 and Year 5 at €1,800 3,600
One Parent family 1,650
One major anomaly is the discrimination against families with only one income. This was a social engineering scheme to encourage/force more women into the work force. It was put in place when the boom economy needed more workers. Unfair? Of course! But, now that there are no jobs, it's a great source of government revenue.
The Tax page provides further information and more about tax agreements with foreign governments, as well as links to the Revenue Commissioners. There's also some pension and other information.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage is €8.65 Euro per working hour. For an explanation of employee rights and more stuff than you want to know, go to the Department of Trade and Employment's Employee Rights pages . Among other matters, these pages explain the infinite gradations of lesser pay which workers under the age of 18 can claim as their due.
P.S.: This information is taken from www.movetoireland.com/movepag/overview.htm
It is not, however, an exhaustive guide to all aspects of Irish life. Rather, it concentrates on those things of most concern to Irish immigrants.
And this page? Gotta start somewhere....
Ireland
Population:
7 million cows, 8 million sheep, 4 million people. More than a third of the people live in the Dublin area.
Area:
70,282 sq.km There's plenty of open space once you get out of the five main cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford.
Geography:
Ireland is an island. You can't get more than 150 miles from the sea. The place is WET! If you're not near a beach, then a lake or river isn't far. The Ordnance Survey of Ireland has steet maps and topographical maps of everywhere in Ireland available for sale here.
Location:
The key thing about Ireland's location is that Britain is close. In fact, the northeast 6 counties of Ireland are part of the United Kingdom. This is the part of the island that always made the news back when bombings were a daily occurence. Meanwhile, the peaceful and quiet 26 counties that make up the Republic of Ireland are what this site is about.
Peace in the North
People hear the word Ireland and still remember bombs and the peace process. Ireland is really two places - Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Republic is the South, the 26 counties where peace has reigned for 90 plus years. The goings on up North do not affect the South save as a daily drumbeat of background news. The South is probably one of the most peaceful places on the planet.
Happily, up North things are looking up. A political settlement has been reached. Peace reigns and normality is, finally, normal. The North has become a popular travel spot for southerners. My wife and I spent a week there and can vouch for the warm welcome and value for money.
Language:
English is the language everyone speaks, but there's been an official push for decades to encourage the use of the traditional Celtic language called Gaelic. This is the everyday language in small bits of Ireland and you'll also find that road signs, television and radio use both languages. A fair percentage of the populace has some French, German, and more rarely, Spanish.
Currency:
Ireland's official currency is now the Euro. The Euro is not only Ireland's money, but works equally well in Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, and Portugal and, eventually all the newly entered eastern EU states like Poland and Estonia once they reach the required monetary targets.
Climate:
Not bad. Moderate year round with winter temperatures averaging 39 F and summer 61 F. It does rain a fair bit, but the weather is so changeable that a day that begins with showers often slides into sunshine.
Government:
Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. For the past three decades various coalitions of parties have ruled in turn. But, policy is notably stable since the populace is fairly uniform in its background and outlook.
Social Welfare:
Everyone working in Ireland or dealing with the government in any way (welfare, child benefits, health system) requires a Personal Public Service (PPS) number. All employees and self-employed workers who are aged 16 or over are liable for the Universal Service Charge. This newly instituted tax includes Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, which are made up of Social Insurance, Health and Employment Levies. The Service Charge includes a pension levy which doesn't really go toward pensions but is a fancy name for another tax. Information on Social Welfare (Allowances, pensions, children etc.) is available from the Department of Social Welfare.
New residents of Ireland don't qualify for most social welfare payments. You have to be living here for two years before you can receive goodies like the children's allowance or many other benefits.
Tax:
The short version is this for 2012:
Single & Widowed Persons: No Dependent Children 2012
€
20% on first 32,800
40% on balance
Single & Widowed Persons: Dependent Children
20% on first 36,800
40% on balance
Married Couples: One Income
20% on first 41,800
40% on balance
Married Couples: Two Incomes*
20% on first 65,600
40% on balance
* Excess over €41,800 (2011) non transferable between spouses
Income Levy -Replaced in 2012 with Universal Social Charge
2% on first 75,036
4% 99,944
6% on incomes over
Personal Tax Credit
Single Person 1,650
Married Couple/Single Parent 3,300
Widow(er) with dependent children
1st year of bereavement;
Year 2 €3,150 and Year 5 at €1,800 3,600
One Parent family 1,650
One major anomaly is the discrimination against families with only one income. This was a social engineering scheme to encourage/force more women into the work force. It was put in place when the boom economy needed more workers. Unfair? Of course! But, now that there are no jobs, it's a great source of government revenue.
The Tax page provides further information and more about tax agreements with foreign governments, as well as links to the Revenue Commissioners. There's also some pension and other information.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage is €8.65 Euro per working hour. For an explanation of employee rights and more stuff than you want to know, go to the Department of Trade and Employment's Employee Rights pages . Among other matters, these pages explain the infinite gradations of lesser pay which workers under the age of 18 can claim as their due.
P.S.: This information is taken from www.movetoireland.com/movepag/overview.htm