Working in the Republic of IRE

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Hi all

Just a query on behalf of my brother.

He's working in the Uk but thinking about taking a 6 month secondment job in the Republic of Ireland with the company he currently works for.

He won't get any allowance in the way of accommodation, travel etc.., however, as the salary is much higher for this secondment job than he's currently on, he should have, if we've worked out & the online Ire calculators are correct, few hundred (£) left over even after paying usual bills in the UK (mortgage, loans, housekeeping bills etc..) plus extra accomm etc. bills in Ireland.

We know Ireland can be v expensive however, this seems like a good (and short) way to make extra dosh in the next 6 months. He doesn't have any dependents and his long-time girlfriend is supportive of this - as long as he factors in some cheap flights home now and again!

We assume he would have his old job back in Uk when he returns - however, this will need to be discussed with his manager - it is just a secondment after all.

Could you wise ones give me all your thoughts on this - good, bad, ugly.

Seems a very good opportunity for him - but maybe we're missing something here?

Thanks all
GJ xx

SugarSpun

Where's the job? The cost of accommodation in Dublin is incredibly high.

Lots of people live in Sun-Thurs housing, which might work for him if he wants to fly home at the weekends. He pays a contribution to the household (just for a room, some of them include dinner and breakfast too) but only stays there Sunday night through Friday morning - as the university-aged kid of the house comes home at the weekends and sleeps in the bed!

It might work if it's only a short term job, and even taking weekly flights into account could be cheaper and easier than looking for a short lease on a flat.

splishsplash

Rent, public transport, food and car insurance are very high, as are car rentals (not sure if this'll be taken care of through work?). It's also relatively expensive to eat out anywhere half decent. A pint of Guiness will set you back about €4, a long-neck from €4.30 to €4.70. Average lunch out is about €7-€10 (modest lunch, no dessert or drinks).

Car tax varies depending on the car you drive, always much higher than the UK. I drive a 1800cc car, tax is €582pa:eek: . Refuse collection costs are very high, variable according to where you live. We don't have council tax though!

A visit to the GP will cost €40-€50 each time, and you have to pay for all meds. It would be well worth checking out the EHIC site if you haven't done so already.

He'll have a blast though, and six months will fly by! There may be some useful information here. Best of luck.

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Thanks all! He won't be using a car at all, so that's not a concern. He's just saying he's covered with company medical insurance so that may cover IE too.. have to defintely check that one, that's a huge price to see the doctor!

I agree that 6 months will fly by.

Thanks for the advice, keep it coming!

Especially re accommodation - he's said he doesn't want to share a room - this seems quite common in Ireland?!?

Splishsplash - the site you gave is quite good, however, it seems that you need to pay for the full site to get any proper info? Know of any other free sites? Thanks.

suki1964

As long as he gives up eating and drinking he will be grand

Honest us in NI have heart failure at the cost down south. Here the border towns are packed with Southerners picking up the groceries.

I was in Dublin last spring and a meal for two in a chinese on the outskirts of town on an industrial estate cost us £54 - two starters -one main and a rice dish and two cokes ..In the bars on the outskits a coke was £2.60 and a guiness £4

Aside from the cost of living Ireland is a lovely place - out of the city. As a londoner now living in the North and not having set foot in Dublin for over 20 years I was amazed at how cosmopolitan it had become, in fact I felt it had more immigrants then London

belfastgirl23

If he's being paid in £sterling then he will need at least a 40% bump in salary to allow for the RoI effect. Dublin as everyone has said is notoriously expensive but any of the cities will also be pricey. To be honest I'd say do it for the experience but it will cost you an arm and a leg. As Suki says, Northern towns (including Belfast) are full of day trippers from the republic at the minute because it seems so cheap in comparison. Having spent some time in London lately too one of the first things people who have visited roi lately will say to you is how dear it is. So if it's expensive to londoners, you can imagine!

If you tell us roughly where he will be we could probably help a lot more.

shoppergal

GoldenJill wrote: »

Thanks all! He won't be using a car at all, so that's not a concern. He's just saying he's covered with company medical insurance so that may cover IE too.. have to defintely check that one, that's a huge price to see the doctor!

I agree that 6 months will fly by.

Thanks for the advice, keep it coming!

Especially re accommodation - he's said he doesn't want to share a room - this seems quite common in Ireland?!?

Splishsplash - the site you gave is quite good, however, it seems that you need to pay for the full site to get any proper info? Know of any other free sites? Thanks.

Grr, just typed a long reply but the stupid laptop lost it all. I'll try again

I live in Ireland and I've never heard of renters sharing a room They share houses/apartments but obviously have their own rooms.

My dad and sis live in the UK so have spent alot of time there and yes, Ireland is more expensive but I don't think as much as this thread makes out. I live in 1 of the larger cities in Ireland(not Dublin) and overall costs aren't too bad. Gas & electricity are about the same as the UK, no council tax or water rates. Public transport can be pricey so he should try and get accommodation near where he'll be working.

Regarding doctors visits as far as I'm aware NHS patients can still see a doctor here for no charge as well as get prescriptions for free. The doctor/pharmacy then claim it back from the NHS in the UK. My dad has needed to go to doctors etc while he's been over here and has never had to pay.

Let me know if I can help with any other queries.

SugarSpun

I know a fair number of people who shared rooms but it's totally unnecessary.

daft.ie is a good website for housing - there's an option to search for "letting" single-occupancy apartments and also sharing. He should be able to find something for €500/month or even less up to €700 or so for a nice double room in the city centre. The main problem will be a 6 month lease- he might have to look for a sublet or take to lying to people and telling them he'll be there for a couple of years.

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Thanks all. Brilliant advice thanks all. Yes it is Dublin (horror prices!) however, he is trying to see if any allowance can be made from his employers.

He would, if workings out are correct, have a couple of hundred pounds spare (everything else taken out) - sounds like it'll be beans on toast and pints in a can from the corner shop!

With the euro so strong at the moment tho, I think it's worth a chance.

Keep the advice coming - you're brilliant all of you!
GJ x

splishsplash

Try this one - I think this is the most comprehensive and appears to be free. If in doubt, check the citizensinformationboard.ie for info regarding work/living issues.

Here's a link for daft.ie.

busiscoming2

Hi my tuppence worth: my dd lives in Dublin - it is as expensive as living in London, she did her uni work placement there and just had a room in a student house which is one option ( if he can put up with students!) She moved permanantly (to be with her bf) last autumn, they rent a large 1 be apartment in a road behind the Liffey for 850euro pm. We visited last october and found food etc to be the same price as here. You could also buy a drink and sandwich in a lot of places for 5euro, not bad for lunch.