Ireland Living and Working GEOGRAPHY Geographically Ireland is

Ireland Living and Working

GEOGRAPHY Geographically Ireland is divided into two parts: The Republic of Ireland which is made up of 26 Counties Northern Ireland which is made up of 6 Counties and is part of U. K.

Labour Market Factors • • • Young highly educated workforce Immigration & Irish returnees Emigration National wage agreements English language High female participation rate

Ireland’s Demography • • Total Population Aged 15+ Employment Unemployment rate 4. 4 million 3. 8 million 2. 1 million 12. 5%

the Irish Economy is Changing… Employment Growth 1998 -2009

Unemployment Rising Rapidly

Notified Vacancies Falling …. .

Jan-May Vacancies 2008 2009 Service/Sales Managers 1806 1039 42% Health associate professionals 1105 469 58% Science/engineering associate professionals 1700 729 57% Other associate professionals 1811 1822 -1% Skilled metals/engineering workers 2667 1018 62% Skilled building workers 1177 328 72% Clerical workers 5178 1781 66% Health/care service workers 3169 1521 52% Hotel/catering workers 8271 3703 55% Sales workers 8038 4156 48% Transport workers 1543 487 68% Other service workers 6309 2850 55% Other production workers and operatives 2818 753 73% 48881 22567 54% YEAR Total % Decline

Opportunities – Skills and Labour Shortages • Software Engineers (with experience in networks and specific software applications (e. g. Java). • Accountants (with expertise in regulation, compliance and risk) • Actuaries • Marketing Managers (with considerable experience) • Technical Sales Representatives with knowledge of particular products/services • Scientists (highly qualified and experienced professionals and technicians) • IT specialists with fluent foreign language skills • Engineers (experienced design and process engineers for manufacturing subsectors)

Opportunities – Skills and Labour Shortages • • Sales Assistants (i. e. shops) Clerical (office work, accounts) Caring (health care, child care, elder care) Catering (Chefs, waiters, fast food) Hairdressing Security (shops, office, factories) Health sector (e. g. Doctors and Nurses)

Occupational Employment Forecasts 2012 Engineering, Computing, scientific, Medical, Legal and Financial Professionals More information: www. fas. ie - FÁS Quarterly Labour Market Commentary - Job Opportunities in the Down-Turn

Know before You Go Essential Preparation • Contact your local EURES Adviser before you leave the country • Seek pre-departure advice on “L & W” • Bring relevant personal documentation, relevant ‘E’ forms and European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) • Speak at least basic English • Have enough money to live for 1 month at least

Know before You Go Essential Preparation • Try to find a job before you arrive or be prepared to look for it • Discuss any queries relating to your contract of employment directly with your new employer • Have somewhere to stay on arrival – Friend www. hostelbookers. com www. hosteldublin. com

Qualification recognition • The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland www. nqai. ie is the Irish centre for the recognition of international qualifications. • The Authority represents Ireland in a European network of Centres known as ENIC/NARIC www. enic-naric. net (European National Information Centre/National Academic Recognition Information Centre).

Looking Work in Ireland FÁS – The Training & Employment Authority www. fas. ie – Employment: 2, 891 Jobs (February 2009) * 5, 300 Jobs (September 2008) - Training Courses – CV on line www. eures. europa. eu – Living & Working in all the EU Countries

Looking for Work in Ireland Private Recruitment Agencies • Irish Federation of Personnel Services (IFPS www. nrf. ie ) • No Charge to Jobseekers • Agencies generally charge employers 12% to 20% of first year’s salary.

Internships/ Work experience in Ireland • • • www. leargas. ie www. ie. aiesec. org/AI www. gradireland. com www. iaeste. ie EURES portal {(Access www. eures. europa. eu ; select –Jobseekers; select - Related links: National Employment Services (on bottom right hand side of screen), select Information and jobs for graduates (on left hand side of screen)}.

Some Useful Web Sites • • • Irish Government Citizens Information Irish Times: Irish Independent: Sunday Business Post: Irish Examiner: www. gov. ie www. citizensinformation. ie www. irish-times. com www. independent. ie www. sbpost. ie www. examiner. ie

On arrival - What you need to do 1. Register for PPS Number – Social Security 2. Register for Tax – Tax free allowance Cert. 3. Open a Bank Account

PPS Number A PPS (Personal Public Service) Number is your unique reference number. This PPS Number will help you to access benefits and information from public service agencies more quickly and more easily. This includes services such as Social Welfare, Revenue, Public Healthcare and Education. More information on: www. welfare. ie

PPS Number – How to apply? In your local Welfare office you need to show: • Current Valid Passport or National Identity Card and • Evidence of either birth /work /unemployment /residency /tax liability /education and • Evidence of address in Ireland!!! (Household Bill, Official letter/document, financial statement, property lease or tenancy agreement, verified employers letter. All documents must show the applicants name and address)

Opening a bank account ØIntroduction Letter from employer with exact details as per Passport or The letter from PPS application received back from Social Welfare Department ØDriving Licence or Passport ØDetails of Irish Address – Utility Bill

Minimum Wage € 8. 65 per hour Please note: The minimum rate of pay increases from time to time. Details of current minimum rates are always available from the Employment Rights Information Unit or on the Department’s website www. entemp. ie

Personal Taxation • Tax system: PAYE = Pay As You Earn • 2 rates of Tax 20% on the first € 36, 400. 00 earned 41% on all earnings above € 36, 400. 00 • Personal tax allowances granted to individuals by a system of Tax Credits More information on: www. revenue. ie

Income Tax - Example Single Person - Tax Credit € 1, 830 Married Person - Tax Credit € 3, 660 Example: INCOME TAX – Single Person Salary of € 26, 000 euro A single person pays 20% tax on € 26, 000 = € 5, 200 Less € 1, 830 tax credit = € 3370 taxable pay

Social Security • PRSI = Pay related Social Security • No payment on first € 127. 00 of earnings • On a basic salary the social security deduction is 4% on earnings over € 127 • A health contribution of 2% is deducted from all income More information on: www. welfare. ie

Accommodation - Rough Guide Housing situation • 45% • 35% • 18% Owned outright Owned but with a mortgage Rented (private/local)

Average rents in Dublin per month • • Fully furnished 1 bedroom apartment 2 bedroom apartment 3 Bedroom House Bedsit/Studio € 700+ 750+ 1100+ 500+

Renting a House or Apartment • • • Landlords usually require: 1 month’s rent in advance 1 month’s rent as security Generally require 1 year’s lease Rental agreements are legal Custom is for young people to share accommodation.

Some Approximate Prices from a Typical Shopping Basket (Tesco Dublin – September 09) • • • Eggs (6) € 1. 42 Chicken (Tesco - medium) € 2. 99 Potatoes (2. 5 kg) € 3. 39 Milk (1 litre) € 0. 97 Bottle wine (average) € 8. 49 Washing up liquid (Tesco)500 ml € 0. 79

IRELAND • • • Head of State: Mary Mc. Aleese – President The Dáil (Parliament) + Senate Current Prime Minister – Brian Cowen Coalition Government Currency € - Euro Time = GMT -Irish time minus 1 hour

IRELAND • Ireland offers a good quality of life • Temperate climate – lots of rain! • English speaking – the Irish language is still spoken in some areas but for work English is essential. • Many young people – a variety of interests – football, Gaelic games, golf, fishing, rugby, music (U 2), theatre, cinema etc

Thank you Jacqueline Wadden EURES adviser Dublin Tel. 01 2043600 E-mail: jacqueline. wadden@fas. ie FÁS activities are funded by the Irish Government and the National Training Fund