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Original poster

Moving to Ireland - lots of questions

242 replies

ThatchersCold · 26/08/2018 12:46

I’ve massively got the fear about what is going to happen in the near future with Brexit in the U.K.

I have Irish heritage (grandparents) and so am going to apply for an Irish passport. My DM has had an Irish passport for about 20 years and she is putting her house on the market and is thinking about moving to Ireland. I am strongly considering moving there too, but am trying to work out if it would be feasible.

I don’t think my dc would be entitled to Irish passports as my DM was not born there, is that right? If so, what kind of rights would they have to live in Ireland, particularly when they become adults?

My eldest dd is disabled which impacts how much I can work, so I would need to claim benefits. I am self employed but don’t earn that much, so currently receive working tax credits, child tax credits, carers allowance, child benefit, housing benefit and my daughter gets DLA. I’ve no idea what my/her entitlement to welfare would be in Ireland. Because of my daughter’s disability I need to be sure I’d be able to make ends meet.

also any other information about the cost of living, healthcare, employment, schools etc would be useful. My DM is planning to move to somewhere around Wexford so would probably be that area. My dc are 8 and 14. I don’t know if this a bonkers idea or whether I could actually do it. Would be a scary thing to do as I actually really like my life here but I’m so worried about what the future holds here, particularly for the dc.

OP posts:
noseoftralee · 26/08/2018 12:52

Take thee to Craicnet (and the website for Department for Foreign Affairs).

Ultimately, as far as I remember, residency counts for citizenship purposes after a period of time spent living there (3 years???)

Do your homework though - the country is having a massive housing crisis at the minute with rent at all time high. Tax is higher, no NHS.

Original poster
ThatchersCold · 26/08/2018 12:59

I think the rent issue would be ok as my DM is desperate for me to move there too and said she would buy me a little house if I did (her house here is worth a fair bit and they’d be downsizing in Ireland). And from what I’ve seen online house prices (to buy) are crazy cheap compared to here.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatchersCold · 26/08/2018 12:59

And thanks, will check out craicnet Smile

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
SassitudeandSparkle · 26/08/2018 13:02

I would say that the healthcare seems expensive from the experience of someone I know that moved there.

EleanorRigbey · 26/08/2018 13:05

I don't think you could just move to Ireland and start claiming benefits (passport or not). And yes you pay for medical here, there is a public system but the waiting lists are long.

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/

What part of Ireland are you thinking of moving to? House prices in city area i.e.: Dublin/Cork or not crazy cheap.

EleanorRigbey · 26/08/2018 13:05

Sorry just saw Wexford.

whatyadoing · 26/08/2018 13:07

Why do you want to move to Ireland? You're English right?
1st thing I'd say to you, is consider having weather like today i.e. rain every single day in Ireland.
Irish and English citizens have free travel and equal access to benefits under the Ireland Agreement (1940ish?).
Childrens allowance is approx. 160 euros per month.
There is an invalidity allowance.

You will most likely need a car.

Cost of living in Dublin is equal to London. Outside of Dublin it is considerably lower but not cheap by any means.

The pace of life is a lot slower in Ireland. Healthcare system superior to the NHS but unless you have a medical card, you have to pay.

Google entitlement to medical card Ireland and you will see the income threshold.

Work is not as plentiful as London for example, but I can't recall whether you said you are London based?

AlwaysPottering · 26/08/2018 13:08

I only know our relatives from southern counties say how expensive everything is. When they visit up here in the north they stock up a fair bit in supermarket for things. We’ve holidayed most of the summer in Donegal and I definitely notice everything more expensive.No NHS so health insurance and 50 Euro a go for GP visit. Same for dentist etc. Taxes higher too.

whatyadoing · 26/08/2018 13:09

You're equally entitled to Benefits in Ireland as an Irish citizen would be. That agreement predates the EU and is a peculiar agreement between Britain and Ireland.

Darknessisaknocking · 26/08/2018 13:10

Hi Op,

I have lived in Ireland before. I just wasted to really stress about how different the health care system is in comparison to the UK because that seems like it would be relevant to you.
Unless you are on benefits/low income you have to pay 50 euros every time you see a GP. It's only free for under 6's. I think this can be a real shock to anyone moving to Ireland from the UK. It really adds up. Again hospital services are not free unless you have a medical card or health insurance ( which is obviously not free and expensive).
Also there is a very big problem with housing there at the moment and renting can be quite expensive. A lot of things that are subsided in the uk are not in Ireland. There are no free school meals etc. You pay for school books etc.
I know what I mention are negatives but feel they are very important points.

Darknessisaknocking · 26/08/2018 13:10

*wanted not wasted, ooooops!

whatyadoing · 26/08/2018 13:11

Taxes are higher definitely. In general, I would say the cost of living is cheaper in London than Ireland. Rents outside Dublin are reasonable, or buying a house, but Dublin will be London prices. You get more spacious houses in Ireland too.

Original poster
ThatchersCold · 26/08/2018 13:22

Thanks for the replies, lots to think about. Is there anything similar to tax credits in Ireland which tops up wages if you are a single parent on a low income?

Slow pace of life would suit me fine Smile. I have ME so I’d probably fit in well. Not currently in London no, I live rurally.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatchersCold · 26/08/2018 13:28

And as for why I want to move to Ireland, it’s the obvious choice as I’m half Irish. The county council where I live now is on the verge of going bankrupt, and that’s before Brexit and whatever hell that brings with it. I am worried for my DC’s future.

One other thing that’s just occurred to me, I have court orders protecting me and DD2 from her father. Would they still be enforced in Ireland? Need to be sure we would still be safe.

OP posts:
FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 26/08/2018 13:32

" . I’ve no idea what my/her entitlement to welfare would be in Ireland.. "

the same as an Irish person's, just as Irish people can come to Britain and get an NI number/and or benefits, so can Brits do that in Ireland.

goodgirls · 27/08/2018 17:27

1st thing I'd say to you, is consider having weather like today i.e. rain every single day in Ireland

It doesn't rain every day in Ireland. We've had one of the warmest driest years on record, it went for months without a drop of rain.
Why do people persist with that stupid stereotype?

Is there anything similar to tax credits in Ireland which tops up wages if you are a single parent on a low income?

Yes, there is Working Family Payment and it can be quite generous. Child benefit is also higher.Taxes are NOT higher than the UK, in fact far more people are outside the tax net in Ireland, a full third of people don't even pay tax. We are low-middle income earners and we get WFP and pay very little in tax, far far less than we did working in the UK.

goodgirls · 27/08/2018 17:30

Oh and there is also carers allowance, and if you qualify for that you may also get the household benefits package which gets you free travel, free tv license and a gas or electricity allowance as well.

Asdf12345 · 27/08/2018 17:35

When we looked at moving the overall quality of life would have worked out the same.

Much higher pay but higher taxation, and costs of living to match. That was as two full time professionals with no kids or benefits though. My understanding is that life on benefits down south is harder than in the uk.

goodgirls · 27/08/2018 17:38

Down south? South where?

And no, I don't think thats true at all. My experience of both systems is that life on benefits in Ireland is far better. The UK system seems designed to torture and abuse rather than help. We don't have any of the Universal Credit horror stories in Ireland.

Asdf12345 · 27/08/2018 17:48

Southern Ireland - the republic.

goodgirls · 27/08/2018 17:49

please don't call it Southern Ireland. It's inaccurate and really pisses people off.
Southern Ireland means cork and kerry!

Nettymummy · 27/08/2018 17:49

I would starting checking how people in Ireland manage with the same condition your DD has. Is there an irish group you could join to check how it is managed?
It sounds like a lot would depend on the support your DD would receive. You may get a carers allowance and she may get access to special school with special school transport. But obviously, it all depends. Schools in Ireland are nowhere near as well equipped as UK schools. There's no kitchen in Irish schools for starters. Children eat at their desks mostly. Many don't have sports halls and there are lots in temporary (freezing) structures.
I wouldn't come over just for better financial or social benefits.
The public transport, if you need to rely on it, is pretty rubbish outside Dublin.
And running a car very expensive. The older the car, the higher the tax and insurance costs. I don't think low income families have it as easy in Ireland as the figures would let you believe.

Asdf12345 · 27/08/2018 17:52

Only you experience but the chaps I have known who work in the republic seem incredibly anti welfare recipients in a way I haven't perceived in the uk.

goodgirls · 27/08/2018 18:12

That may just be the people you know. My experience is definitely the opposite, English people can be vicious about "benefit scroungers" etc.

goodgirls · 27/08/2018 18:12

Schools in Ireland are nowhere near as well equipped as UK schools. There's no kitchen in Irish schools for starters. Children eat at their desks mostly. Many don't have sports halls and there are lots in temporary (freezing) structures

What are you talking about?

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