Moving to Ireland from London

[shellbells12]

I am Irish been in London over 10 years and want to move back to have more of a community for my family, and also help out with caring responsibilities for both sets of parents. I have two children 5&6 so it would be an adjustment for them but they will love being able to see grandparents and cousins.
what do I need to be thinking about? Is Ireland really expensive to live in? My partner will be moving with his job so that won’t be an issue, I will be a SAHM initially until I set up my business.
please tell me everything I need to know/ do and if you made the move tell me how it’s been?!

@Positivenancy thank you so so much!! This is so good to have and know!!

No problem at all @shellbells12 don’t hesitate to to ask any questions if anything else pops up ☺️

Children are starting school later than they used to now, so maybe factor that in when thinking about classes.
They usually start around 5 now...maybe 4 (but nearly 5) if they have a birthday in the few months leading up to Christmas. After that parents usually hold until the following year. So a Feb birthday would most likely mean a start at 5 and a half these days.
(There are 2 free preschool years now and that has made a difference re school starting age.)

Just moved back. Been great so far. The customs process to get your goods over to Ireland is a pain in the hole, so be prepared that you might be without some belongings for weeks/months until you have the paperwork all sorted. Housing in west of Ireland surprisingly expensive/competitive especially if you want to be close to one of the main desirable areas in Galway/Mayo. We are also moving from London and wouldn't be able to find something we'd want to live in without selling our home in London (seems a lot of Irish moving back from USA, UK and Australia at the same time with big cash deposits ready to go). That's not to put you off, you will definitely get something but don't expect the bargains you might have seen a few years ago. Literally zero regrets here, so happy we made the move and the kids are thriving.

Thanks it feels strange that my 5yo is in year 1 in Uk. He is an August baby so he definitely could do with senior infants for next Sept!

Amazing to hear thank you, delighted to read that you are enjoying it!! Great advice all round! I have no clue what a bargain would be about houses these days 🫣 great shout about the importing our stuff!

@shellbells12 daft.ie is the our rightmove equivalent

Sounds good so. Sorry, didn't know it would be next Sept before they'd be moving schools.

I think it makes sense to let them finish / nearly finish this year in school, and get home in June so they have some time to settle before joining a new school 🫣 but best laid plans!

My dd is 5 and a half and has just started school so for an August child turning six next year then senior infants would work and they would be among the right age group. Also if there are SEN then you need to be particular about the school. Some are way way better than others (I know from experience).

Thank you, good to hear. Undiagnosed SEN stuff, extremely likely due to another neurodivergent condition!! Will be mindful when looking at places to live!

I wouldnt be in any rush to buy for a few years. I would settle, get the lay of the land / inside track - allow yourself the flexibility to move if it doesnt feel right until you commit. Are both sets of your parents in the same area - if you are considering their care down the line are you looking to be within an hours drive of them (2hr round trip). Do consider the impact of the weather if you go west and coastal. Winters can be challenging and relentless (even summers!!) - you might have forgotten if lived aay for so long and only back for a few weeks at a time.

Just be aware - a friend's grandson, under one year old is supposed to have free GP care but the parents of the child aren't on a medical card and so they pay for their GP visits privately. They have to pay for the baby's visits too 😮 as the GP's receptionist says all their "free child places" are gone. They'll have to wait till a child leaves the practice or becomes ineligible because of their age. Then they'll get free healthcare for the baby.
Only in Ireland 🙄

It does sound daft.

@deeahgwitch that cannot be true. Under a few months they are still under care of the maternity hospital and under 8 you get a free gp card regardless of income or anything to do with family medical cards. There are many clinics and hospitals around too that are free also.

I'll check it out @Psychoticbreak but that's what I was told and was gobsmacked.

No absolutely not true at all thankfully. Mine all much older than 8 but citizens information pages will give all info you need on it. GP is not free for an adult unless they have medical card or a gp card but for kids definitely is. Dentist now is another thing and best not discussed!

thank you, good to think about. Once we are 1-2 hour drive to family that will work for us.

@Psychoticbreak I asked my friend and she says definitely her grandson's visit to the doctor (GP) has to be paid for. I too was shocked and thought it couldn't be true.

GP visit cards for children under 8 (citizensinformation.ie)

I have no idea why because we do not pay for children under 8 over here. You do have to apply for the visit card but it is not means tested the same way child benefit here is not means tested it is a given thing.

They are being taken for a ride!!

"They are being taken for a ride"

I thought so too and told my friend to investigate.

I would advise bringing the best car you can afford home with you. They are so expensive here but if you are moving back to live you can import without paying any taxes - though you will have needed to have owned it for 6 months prior to moving.

Also, our removals van came through Belfast port so we don’t have any issue with importing our stuff (have no idea if we should have done!)

We used a local removal company here who do loads of runs moving people back PM me if you wan their details, we found them cheaper than any other quote we got - we are near the NI border (Donegal).

Edited to say importing your car is a pain, you will need to do some of the work before you move and the process isn’t very clear, but totally worth it in terms of savings.

@Psychoticbreak a gp doesn't have to sign up to the free gp scheme for under 8s. In the same way they don't have to sign up to any medical card scheme. It's completely up to themselves. Nothing at all illegal about it. Many gps won't have spaces for medical card patients but will take on new private patients. That's actually very common right now. If one of mine was unwell over the weekend or I just wanted extra convenience I'd often just go to our local walk in clinic and pay the €50 for them as I'm not signed up to that clinic as a patient so I have to pay. It's not a case that it's always automatically free for under 8s.

Great idea re coming through Belfast! Thanks so much!
good advice re the car. We have one in London but should prob get another here before we come home! Realistically we won’t be moving til May / June next year, but will prob comeback on this thread asking more questions!

Anyone who made the move how did you manage the emotions of should I shouldn’t I?
when I posted originally I thought I was going to be made redundant in 3 months, but have been asked to stay until May next year ( which helps re kids and schools) so now I’m back and forth in the “yeahhhh let’s go home” to the “what if it’s a disaster” emotions!!

Good to know this too! Thank you!