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 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

450000 400000 350000 300000 250000 200000 150000

Unemployment Rising Rapidly

Live Register

Notified Vacancies Falling …..

160000 140000 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 2004

Figure 1.11: Vacancies Notified to FAS 2004-2008

2005 2006 2007 2008

Jan-May Vacancies

YEAR Service/Sales Managers Health associate professionals Science/engineering associate professionals Other associate professionals Skilled metals/engineering workers Skilled building workers Clerical workers Health/care service workers Hotel/catering workers Sales workers Transport workers Other service workers Other production workers and operatives Total 2008

1806 1105 1700 1811 2667 1177 5178 3169 8271 8038 1543 6309 2818 48881

2009

1039 469 729 1822 1018 328 1781 1521 3703 4156 487 2850 753 22567 % Decline 42% 58% 57% -1% 62% 72% 66% 52% 55% 48% 68% 55% 73% 54%

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

 Introduction Letter from employer with exact details as per Passport or The letter from PPS application received back from Social Welfare Department  Driving Licence or Passport  Details 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% Owned outright • 35% Owned but with a mortgage • 18% Rented (private/local)

Average rents in Dublin

per month

Fully furnished € • 1 bedroom apartment 700+ • 2 bedroom apartment 750+ • 3 Bedroom House 1100+ • Bedsit/Studio 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) • Chicken (Tesco - medium) • Potatoes (2.5kg) • Milk (1 litre) • Bottle wine (average) • Washing up liquid (Tesco)500ml €1.42

€2.99

€3.39

€0.97

€8.49

€0.79

IRELAND

• Head of State: Mary McAleese – President • The Dáil (Parliament) + Senate • Current Prime Minister – Brian Cowen • Coalition Government • Currency € - Euro • Time = GMT -Irish time minus1 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 (U2), theatre, cinema etc

Thank you

Jacqueline Wadden EURES adviser Dublin Tel. 01 2043600 E-mail: [email protected]

FÁS activities are funded by the Irish Government and the National Training Fund