IrelandIrelandLiving and Living and WorkingWorking

Labour Market Factors

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

Ireland’s Demography

• Total Population 4.4 million• Population Aged 15+ 3,8 million• Employment 2,1 million• Employment rate 68 %• Unemployment rate 6.1 %

Employment Growth 1996-2009

- 40

- 20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

000s

But the Irish economy is changing…

Opportunities

• Financial & Business sector (High level)• Industry (engineers)• Pharmaceutical Sector• IT Managers & Senior Professionals• Health Services

• Bring relevant personal documentation, relevant ‘E’ forms and European Health Insurance Card

• Speak at least basic English• Have enough money to live for 1 month at

least• Have somewhere to stay on arrival – Friend

www.hostelbookers.com www.hosteldublin.com

Know before You Go Essential Preparation

Know before You Go Essential Preparation

• Try to find a job before you arrive Try to find a job before you arrive or be prepared to look for itor be prepared to look for it

• Discuss any queries relating to your contract of employment directly with your new employer

• Seek pre-departure advice on “L & W”

FÁS – The Training & Employment Authority

www.fas.ie – Employment - 5,300 Jobs (September 2008)– Training Courses– CV on line

www.eures.europa.eu – Living & Working in all the EU Countries

Looking for job in Ireland

Private Recruitment Agencies

• Irish Federation of Personnel Services (IFPS www.ifps.htm)

• No Charge to Jobseekers• Agencies generally charge employers

12% to 20% of first year’s salary.

Looking for job in Ireland

Some Useful Web Sites

• Irish Government www.irlgov.ie • Citizens Information

www.citizensinformation.ie• Irish Times: www.irish-times.com • Irish Independent: www.independent.ie • Sunday Business Post: www.sbpost.ie • Irish Examiner: www.examiner.ie

On arrival -what you need to do

1. Register for PPS Number – Social Security2. Register for Tax – Tax free allowance Cert.3. Open 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

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

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)

PPS Number – How to apply?

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 €35,400.00 earned 41% on all earnings above €35,400.00

• Personal tax allowances granted to individuals by a system of Tax Credits

More information on: www.revenue.ie

Income tax - example

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

Single Person - Tax Credit €1,830Married Person - Tax Credit €3,660

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

AccommodationRough 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 1000+• 2 bedroom apartment 1200+• 3 Bedroom House 1400+• Bedsit/Studio 700+

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• Eggs (6) €1.25• Chicken (medium) €7.70• Potatoes (2.5kg) €3.80• Milk (1 litre) €0.90• Bottle wine (average) €10.00• Washing up liquid 500ml €1.50

IRELAND

• Head of State: Mary McAleese – President

• The Dail (parliament) + Senate• Current Prime Minister – Brian Cowen• Coalition Government• Currency € - Euro• Time = GMT -Irish time plus 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 (U2), theatre, cinema etc

Thank youKamila Weglicka

FÁS Training and Employment Authority27-33 Upper Baggot StreetDublin 4e-mail: kamila.weglicka@fas.ieTel. Office: 00 353 1 607 0778

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