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Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 3
IT Sector .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Where to live in Ireland?..................................................................................................................... 4
Dublin .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Cork ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
Galway................................................................................................................................................. 5
Limerick ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Cost of living in Ireland ....................................................................................................................... 6
Accommodation Costs ........................................................................................................................ 7
Renting ............................................................................................................................................ 7
House Prices .................................................................................................................................... 7
Other Good Things About Ireland ....................................................................................................... 9
Right to work in Ireland .................................................................................................................. 9
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Introduction
‘Here's Céad Míle Fáilte to friend and to rover
That's a greeting that's Irish as Irish can be
It means you are welcome
A thousand times over
Wherever you come from, Whosoever you be’
Are you considering relocating to progress your career? If
so, Ireland may be the perfect option for you to begin your
new life abroad and Solas Consulting the most fitting
partner to help you secure employment in your desired
field of the IT sector. Below, you will find a comprehensive
guide on everything you need to know about Ireland from
the cost of living right through to the famous Irish, ‘craic’
culture.
IT Sector
In the past couple of decades, Ireland has emerged as a global hub for high-tech businesses. The
technology sector is a key driver of the Irish economy and accounts today for more than a third of
Ireland’s total exports.
The sector’s importance is amplified further as a result of
Ireland’s reliance on its export industry; a whopping 84% of our
goods are exported. Ireland’s technology sector boasts a wide
variety of activities, ranging from developing hardware and
devices, operating systems and software to providing
consultancy and services, systems integration, outsourcing,
data supply and storage.
The IT sector in Ireland is a thriving and growing industry and is one of the country’s most prevalent
employers. Below are a number of impressive statistics highlighting the booming industry.

9/10 global ICT companies maintain a strong presence in Ireland

All of the top 5 software companies have a significant presence in Ireland

The total number of IT organisations in Ireland is approx. 5,400, 233 of these are foreign
owned ICT companies
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
The ICT industry is currently responsible for approx. 25% of Ireland’s total turnover,
representing a huge one third of Ireland’s exports by value

According to the CSO's 2010 employment figures, over 74,000 people are employed in ICT
companies in Ireland

IT accounts for €50 billion of Irish exports, a figure set to increase as companies continue to
reap the benefits of our competitive opportunities and knowledge-based economy
Where to live in Ireland?
Although a fairly small country, Ireland has a good mixture of cities and countryside, so there are
plenty of options for those looking to relocate here. Ireland has 32 counties with the most relevant
to the IT sector being: Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.
Dublin
Looking for the excitement of a city in your prospective
new home? Look no further than Dublin; the Republic
of Ireland’s capital city.
Recently voted the 26th best city in which to live in the
world by the annual Quality of Living list compiled by
Mercer, Dublin boasts an abundance of job
opportunities and is a young vibrant city with layers of
character. However, its capital status also results in the
cost of living being significantly higher than other parts
of Ireland. Nevertheless, as demonstrated below in the
segment ‘Cost of Living’ it has experienced a significant drop in recent years and is now reasonably
priced in comparison with other European cities such as Paris and London.
Have a quick look at the attached link to get a 5 minute snapshot into just what Dublin offers as a
potential living destination: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4c7dOJkxdM
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Cork
As many visitors are familiar with Dublin, it
often becomes the first port of call when
looking for a home in Ireland. But don't
forget that Ireland has other great cities
as well. A perfect example of this is Cork
in the south of Ireland which offers both
country and city life in one medium-sized county,
creating a truly unique living destination.
The main selling point of Cork essentially lies in its diversity: between the City to the County, the Land
and the Sea, notwithstanding the wide mix of different classes, religions and people from all over the
world. A worldly recognized university, varied food culture, sports teams, great cultural venues /
events and a diverse business/industrial base are just some of what you can expect from living in this
relatively small place in our small Island.
Galway
Galway is the capital of West Ireland and is the
fourth largest city within the state after Dublin,
Cork and Limerick. It is known as Ireland’s Cultural
Heart and is renowned for the numerous festivals,
celebrations and events that take place
throughout the year.
Regarding the local economy, Galway boasts a
variety of complementary business sectors,
including manufacturing industry, tourism, retail
and distribution, education, healthcare and services that include financial, construction, cultural, and
professional. Galway has also been recently identified as a central hub for the European IT sector
and promotes a copious amount of employment opportunities for skilled IT professionals seeking to
move to Ireland for professional growth.
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Limerick
Limerick, the capital of the mid-west region, the
third largest city in Ireland, is another viable
option to consider when planning your move to
Ireland. In 2002 it was awarded Gateway status
with neighboring Shannon which recognized the
area as having sufficient scale and critical mass to
attract significant investment and job
opportunities. Thanks to short commute times,
affordable house prices and excellent educational
facilities the people of Limerick enjoy an
unparalleled high quality of life.
The IT sector is firmly embedded in Limerick’s commercial history and success; in 1984 came the
inception of the National Technology Park, Ireland's first science and Technology Park. This has
become home to a growing and influential nucleus of high-technology and knowledge-based
companies, with over 80 organizations employing over 3,000 skilled people.
Cost of living in Ireland
Many people worry that when moving to Ireland that the cost of living will
be expensive compared to other countries. Ireland has a reputation for high
living costs, but there has been a significant fall in the cost of living since the
commencement of the recession.
Food
+5%
Housing
+59%
Clothes
+8%
Transportation
+40%
Personal Care
+9%
Entertainment
+16%
TOTAL
+28%
Expats will find the cost of living in Ireland is quite
manageable thanks to expat salaries being typically
supported by well-paying jobs that enable them to enjoy
a high quality of life.
Ireland’s competitiveness as a living destination can be
illustrated when comparing Dublin’s cost of living with
that of London’s. Overall, London is 28% more expensive
to live than Ireland and adjacent you can find a
breakdown of the price percentage variations between
the two destinations.
Useful Links
http://www.expatarrivals.com/ireland/cost-of-living-in-ireland
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Accommodation Costs
In response to the recent recession, Ireland’s property bubble has popped and expats will find that
accommodation costs have dropped from the expensive heights they formerly occupied to more
reasonably priced options.
Renting
The chart below comprehensively details the average rent rate in Dublin, from those with a lower
budget to those willing to spend that bit extra on accommodation.
HOUSING
LOWER PRICE RANGE
MID
UPPER PRICE RANGE
Furnished two
bedroom house
€999
€1,500
€2,300
Unfurnished
two bedroom
house
€999
€1,300
€2,000
Furnished two
bedroom
apartment
€950
€2,000
€3,000
Unfurnished
two bedroom
apartment
€950
€1,700
€2,500
Room in shared
apartment
€350
€700
€900
House Prices
In Dublin, the capital, asking prices of residential properties continued to fall in December 2011 and
are now more than 50% below the peak levels seen in mid-2007. These price drops are illustrated
below along with the average asking price for houses all over Dublin.
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DUBLIN
AVERAGE PRICE
PRICE PERCENTAGE DROP
City Centre
€159,099
61.2%
South County
Dublin
€322,754
55.3%
North County
Dublin
€215,939
51%
West County
Dublin
€177,729
53.7%
In other areas, house prices are also plunging.


In County Cork, the most populated area in Munster (the country’s southernmost region),
the average asking price was €181,209, down 48.2% from the peak
In County Galway, the most populated and the main urban area in Connacht (the country’s
western region), the average asking price was €152,094, down 50.7% from the peak level
It should be noted that housing tends to cost significantly more in Dublin than in the rest of the
country. However, the commuter counties of Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow are viable option
less expensive options to consider.
Useful Links:
Renting
Housing
www.rent.ie
www.irishpropertymarket.com
www.daft.ie
www.buyingahouse.ie
www.let.ie
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Other Good Things About Ireland
Ireland has an incredibly rich cultural history. Ours is a culture that has been in
existence for hundreds and hundreds of years. Ireland was a powerhouse of
musical, poetic, and literary creativity for centuries. The Irish language - also
called Gaelic - is one of the few surviving Celtic languages in the world.
Furthermore, Ireland has a well-developed education system. In fact, its
education system is one of the best in the world according to the 2007
independent IMD World Competitiveness Report. As a result of a sustained
investment in this area Ireland now has one of the highest educational
participation rates in the world.
And let’s not forget the ever-popular craic, always in vogue with every age
group. The fact of the matter is, no matter where you are in Ireland, whether
you are in the middle of Dublin or the middle of nowhere, you will always know that you are in
Ireland. You can even start up a conversation with a stranger in Ireland without getting strange
looks. Ireland is truly a unique place to live.
Right to work in Ireland
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: If you are from an EU member state or one of the countries of the EEA or
Switzerland, you are entitled to come to work in Ireland. You do not need an employment permit.
You are entitled to have your dependants come to live with you. If you are a spouse or civil partner
of an EEA/Swiss national who is exercising the right of free movement, then you have similar rights
to work and live in Ireland.
Please see below links if you are not a EU national to find out more about your right to work in
Ireland.
Useful Links:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/working_in_ireland/com
ing_to_work_in_ireland.html
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/migrant_workers/employment_permits/green_
card_permits.html
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/migrant_workers/employment_permits/spousal
_work_permit_scheme.html
GO RAIBH MILE MAITH AGAT! – THANK YOU!
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