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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:
AfterSchoolWorry · 28/08/2018 18:54

Healthcare system superior to the NHS

😂😂😂

What the fuck? It's a heap of shite!! Trolley crisis, cervical check scandal....?

NotAnotherHeffalump · 28/08/2018 19:09

I live in NI. I will put my hands up and admit that I am not an expert in the Irish economy, but it is very common to see people coming up from the republic to shop in our supermarkets, travel up to buy cars here etc because it's cheaper.

NotAnotherHeffalump · 28/08/2018 19:13

*on

Interested in this thread?

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Benefits
Nettymummy · 28/08/2018 19:17

Health service is shocking. I've been put on a waiting list to see a consultant endocrinologist for my son and told I will hear in 2 years, at the earliest, when an appointment will be available. Consultants in lots of paediatric areas in particular of expertise are being cut. My only option is to pay for one privately for €250 for the initial appointment.
A family member is a teacher in an ASD unit. There's 6 children in the class. When a new place became available this summer, there were 40 children applied for the one place. The others who lost out, will have to make do with mainstream or home educate.
As far as I can see, the standard of care is good when you get in, but the queues are outrageous. The government doesn't seem to be able to cope, particularly in health care.
Respite care or home help is practically non-existent.

LorelaiRoryEmily · 28/08/2018 19:26

Children’s allowance is €140 per child per month not €160, there is family income supplement, lone parent etc, I’m not sure which you’d be entitled to, medical cards are not easy to get

AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 19:29

Health service is in parts shocking and in part brilliant, same as the NHS. Anyone complaining about lack of resources for kids with additional needs is crazy if they think it any better in the UK.

CantSleepClownsWillEatMe · 28/08/2018 19:32

As far as I can see, the standard of care is good when you get in, but the queues are outrageous. The government doesn't seem to be able to cope, particularly in health care. Respite care or home help is practically non-existent.

Yes I think because historically so much of the heavy lifting was done by charities also our tendency to institutionalize people we as a nation fall behind in these service provisions at state level.

There's also the fact that Ireland's "wealth" is far more recent than other countries so IMO you can still come across an attitude of "that'll do" Hmm just because it's better than it was in say, the 80s. I do think we could aspire to more!

Doobydoo · 28/08/2018 19:33

What darkness said further up thread. Also cost of living really expensive.We moved back to UK 9 years ago from Co.Waterford. We have just returned after 12 days in co.Limerick.and Co.Waterford. Rwally expensive food/ paracetamol etc and shite choice/quality of food. May get better quality if you live in area with farmers markets etc. They are having a massive housing crisis and I think if you are going to have to work it can be hard to integrate into community,particularly if it is rural. We came back when boys were 2 and 10. I love the quiet and the green! ..but it is not enough to return.Good Luck.

kenandbarbie · 28/08/2018 19:44

Just to contradict what some have said. I'm English, have lived in Ireland for 14 years. I have had no trouble making friends and have come across no 'racism' against me as an English person.

Namelessinseattle · 28/08/2018 19:56

Hiya,

I think as previous posters have said there’s definitely differences in the educations systems but I wouldn’t say one is vastly superior to another.

From what I gather on here and general knowledge I’d have thought the nhs is better, but the hse seems so bad I can’t imagine anywhere is worse- so that could just be emotive.

I think the biggest difference you’ll find is attitude. We are infinitely less diverse- how could we not be when you look at the population sizes. In Ireland the 6 degrees of separation is probably closer to 3. And we’re terrible for giving out but woe betide anyone who gives out about us. If you look at any of the threads about the name of Ireland you’ll see that kind of fierce stubbornness. In reality if someone from Spain said Southern Ireland we’d probably explain actually- that’s cork etc, and it’s probably just Ireland you mean. People from England don’t get that reaction. That said I think the heightened sensitivity with English people comes from discussing Ireland specifically. You could see someone bitch and moan all day about the hse but if someone says the nhs is better- watch out!

Namelessinseattle · 28/08/2018 19:58

For example I got thick at the poster earlier who said about school halls, prefabs and kitchens. Then I thought of every primary school I know and said- she’s not wrong though. And the prefabs is something I massively complain about- so I’m a shocking hypocrite.

Anoisagusaris · 28/08/2018 20:00

To the pp who dismissed my post, I work in this area. I know what I’m talking about. This link explains it more.

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_assistance_payments/residency_requirements_for_social_assistance_in_ireland.html

AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 20:24

God help us if you do, though it wouldn't surprise me. I often got terribly wrong advice from the miserable people behind the glass in the dole centre.
You're still wrong.

tillytop · 28/08/2018 21:06

What's so wrong with saying "Southern Ireland"? That's just ridiculous! Why so defensive?

Asdf12345 · 28/08/2018 21:07

@tillytop
Some people get easily wound up. When I lived in Northern Ireland it was by far the most common term used for the south, even when people were talking about Donegal.

ElspethFlashman · 28/08/2018 21:09

Calm down tilly, it's just incorrect (and really stupid). Every day is a school day, right? Live it, learn it, love it.

Asdf12345 · 28/08/2018 21:16

In the north they love to get annoyed about people leaving them out of the UK.

Bimgy85 · 28/08/2018 21:30

It's not Southern Ireland. No such thing. Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is owned and part of the UK. Don't mix it up

dinosaurkisses · 28/08/2018 21:38

“What the fuck? It's a heap of shite!! Trolley crisis, cervical check scandal....?”

Exactly. When I read that I thought I must be reading the wrong thread, as that’s certainly not the experience I had.

I had all of my maternity care at Holles Street until I was 37 weeks last year and the clinics and facilities were like something from Call The Midwife.

The NHS MLU was like a hotel in comparison.

Bimgy85 · 28/08/2018 21:44

Yes well UK health care is probably better, that's expected as it is a huge country with tens of millions of people. But it falls down in lots of other areas= shithole.

tillytop · 28/08/2018 21:46

calm down tilly, it's just incorrect (and really stupid) and Don't mix it up. See what I mean? Defensive over nothing.

Bimgy85 · 28/08/2018 21:47

I'm not really being defensive it's just quite annoying. Republic of Ireland are happy with their little country. Don't need people mixing up places that aren't apart of it.

HorseOutside · 28/08/2018 22:19

I agree with kenandbarbie that as an English person I have never experienced any negativity towards me in Ireland in the 20 years I've been here. Ireland may not be particularly diverse, though it is getting more so especially in Dublin, but people in general are tolerant, welcoming and accepting.

I have found GP care to be excellent, but at €50 per visit (more in Dublin) it is expensive. You can, however, usually get seen the same day if necessary, and appointments take as long as they take, not just 10 minutes.

As others have said, hospitals are creaking at the seams, especially A&E depts. Once you get a bed, care is fine. If you can afford private healthcare it's advisable to have it as otherwise waiting lists are very long. I have to say I really miss the NHS. People in the UK don't realise how lucky they are really.

I don't know anything about maternity care as none of my DC were born in Ireland.

Services for people with disabilities and special needs are as others have said chronically underfunded. It is very, very hard to get support unless you can pay for it privately and even then waiting lists can be long.

The education system is quite different to the UK. The standard of education is very good, but it is more expensive than the UK in that you have to buy all books in both primary and secondary school. In some schools you can rent books, but not in the one my DC went to. There is a very strong religious ethos in most schools, which I personally found difficult as I am not Catholic. My DC had to go to a Catholic school as there was no other choice in our area.

The cost of living is very high. I would not like to be trying to buy a house now, and it is very difficult to find rental property in the cities, especially Dublin, and it's eye-wateringly expensive. Grocery shopping is expensive, insurance is expensive, everything is expensive!

All that being said, I love it here and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 22:33

I had all of my maternity care at Holles Street until I was 37 weeks last year and the clinics and facilities were like something from Call The Midwife

Bullshit.

tillytop · 28/08/2018 22:40

AnE did you mean to be so rude and ignorant?