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A possible relocation

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MoBurns
  6/19/2017 09:49 EST

I am an Irish citizen - by foreign birth - considering relocation to Ireland from the US. I could use some help with questions regarding the move. Although retirement age - 62 - I would like to continue working. I am not choosy about the work. Ive been a manager of one kind or another for most of my career, but would be happy working in a shop or an office. What are the prospects for finding employment? I'd be looking to rent a small, furnished flat. I think Dublin and Cork will be too expensive for me, and I'd actually prefer a location that is not urban. Any ideas? If living outside an urban area, how necessary is a car? I have a 2012 Fiat (left hand drive) that I am considering bringing with me. What can I expect in terms of the cost of importing/registering/insuring it? Will I need to get an Irish license? As an Irish citizen, will I be eligible for state sponsored health insurance or must I reside in the country for a minimum amount of time before I qualify? Ideally, I'd like to reside in Ireland but travel throughout the EU. I understand health insurance from one EU country can be used throughout the EU. Is that correct? Does anyone have experience with private insurance as a EU citizen? I've always been treated kindly when visiting Ireland, but I'm wondering how people feel towards those of us who weren't born in Ireland emigrating there? Thoughts? Thank you for any help you can offer - Maureen

DebAckley
  6/19/2017 14:32 EST

Hi! I have dual citizenship. Do you have the paperwork to show that you are an Irish citizen when you get in to IE? I did, but they told me to get my passport, too, which I did.
We moved over last year, but came back to NY. We were retired, but the banks would not give us a mortgage as our pensions and SS didn't count as earned income. We really weren't interesting in working...4o years of teaching was enough..lol!
What I was told was I would get their health insurance, but folks said you would want to buy additional to receive better care.
We bought a car there and the Irish car insurance co in Killarney said we would need to get the IE license within a year.
We rented a home while we were there. I would start looking at daft.ie for rentals. There seems to be a bit of a housing shortage in IE ( at least when we were there).
We love the areas of the West....Killarney, Kenmare, Ennis, etc. The bus service is suppose to be quite nice I hear.
Don't know if this helps
deb

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Joshuak
  6/19/2017 23:25 EST

Can we assume you already have your documents ? (Irish Passport) I am also a Dual and did live there for the better part of 18 months in 2 locations. Yes, you will eventually get a EU Health insurance card, which is supposed to be for emergencies when traveling. It is not for use in Ireland itself. You will have to apply for a Public Service Card which will have your PPS number on it. (similar to SS number in US) I am not sure at what age you get all the senior citizen perks such as free TV license, free train and bus travel, and a monthly allowance for electricity. It may be 65, but I was over 70 when I was there so it was not an issue. Rentals are hard to find and getting harder for what you need. You may have to just rent a room. If you live in Cork or Dublin, you could get by without a car, but anywhere else it would probably be difficult. Are you saying your Fiat is set up for driving in the US ? If it is not set up for driving on the left with the driver in the right front, I personally would not want to try using it in Ireland. However, I knew a guy from California that had a Hungarian passport and he moved and took 2 cars in shipping containers to Hungary and last I knew he was still using the California plates which was 4 years ago. But in Hungary they drive on the right side as in the US. He also kept using his Cal. License. He said he was able to baffle them with BS. However, I am not sure you can get car insurance on that from Insurance companies in Ireland. It is hard enough buying insurance for an Irish car with a US license. During the time I was there I bought and sold 2 cars. Both were sold for more than I paid for them. You can buy a used car in fairly good shape cheap as long as you don't need automatic which are as scarce as hen's teeth. Now, in regards to the Irish loving you moving in with them: There are some Irish that don't agree with giving passports to descendants any more. But most will not say anything about it. The one problem they have that is going to be difficult to solve is Health care. At this time there is a shortage of medical facilities and personnel. Brexit does not help. People from other EU countries have as much right to live there as you do and the native born have seen long delays in getting healthcare and they have noticed the difference. So between the Duals, Brexit, other EU people, and an aging population, Ireland has that problem. They recognize it and are trying to work on it. You see, no matter if you look Irish, as soon as you open your mouth to speak, the game is over. They know, you are not really one of THEM. But you will be treated very well anyway.

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