Retiring to Co. Sligo
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 2
Retiring to Co. Sligo
Good Morning,
New here so be gentle.
After visiting Ireland for the first time at the end of May for my son's wedding, we fell in love with the place and have decided to take early retirement and move to Ireland (from the UK). I've been over again at the end of August, found a property and put a deposit down on it.
As much as I've done my research, there are conflicting amounts of advice that are causing confusion on my part so I have various questions to ask if people would be so kind to answer?
1. After putting a deposit down on the house and employing a solicitor, I found out that we needed a PPS number. I filled out the forms and sent them off yesterday by recorded post. Can anyone estimate how long they take to come through?
2. The property was 165,000 euros. Is there any monthly property tax (rates) to pay on this property and if so what would they be?
3. Wifi - I read somewhere that there is a problem with this in Ireland. Is it true?
4. When we bring our car over, do we have to get it registered in Ireland?
5. Prescriptions - I'm on daily medication after suffering a heart attack 8 years ago. I currently have a pre-paid certificate that I pay monthly for. Is this still applicable in Ireland or do they operate a different system?
6. I've read somewhere that medical care may be means tested. Is this correct?
7. Do you need to be resident in Ireland before you can actually open a bank account?
Think that's the main points covered. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance
New here so be gentle.
After visiting Ireland for the first time at the end of May for my son's wedding, we fell in love with the place and have decided to take early retirement and move to Ireland (from the UK). I've been over again at the end of August, found a property and put a deposit down on it.
As much as I've done my research, there are conflicting amounts of advice that are causing confusion on my part so I have various questions to ask if people would be so kind to answer?
1. After putting a deposit down on the house and employing a solicitor, I found out that we needed a PPS number. I filled out the forms and sent them off yesterday by recorded post. Can anyone estimate how long they take to come through?
2. The property was 165,000 euros. Is there any monthly property tax (rates) to pay on this property and if so what would they be?
3. Wifi - I read somewhere that there is a problem with this in Ireland. Is it true?
4. When we bring our car over, do we have to get it registered in Ireland?
5. Prescriptions - I'm on daily medication after suffering a heart attack 8 years ago. I currently have a pre-paid certificate that I pay monthly for. Is this still applicable in Ireland or do they operate a different system?
6. I've read somewhere that medical care may be means tested. Is this correct?
7. Do you need to be resident in Ireland before you can actually open a bank account?
Think that's the main points covered. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,114
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
5. Prescriptions - I'm on daily medication after suffering a heart attack 8 years ago. I currently have a pre-paid certificate that I pay monthly for. Is this still applicable in Ireland or do they operate a different system?
6. I've read somewhere that medical care may be means tested. Is this correct?
Have you think of moving to Northern Ireland? As part of the UK, you will be covered by the NHS in Northern Ireland and there is no prescriptions charges in Northern Ireland.
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 37
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
Good afternoon, I hope this helps, we retired here in January 2016. Our council tax is €225 a year, our PPS numbers took 5 weeks to come through to our address in UK ( before we bought our house ). We opened a Bank of Ireland bank account in Ireland whilst still resident in UK, explaining that we will become resident eventually!
I had to register my car for Irish plates ( €470 for 2001 Golf ), then get the road tax ( a whopping €670 for a year! ) then change my UK driving licence for Irish licence as you can't drive/own an Irish plate car on UK licence.
Everything here is great and ( I think ) much cheaper than living in UK apart from the car situation. That is our biggest expense.
Can't comment on the health care I'm afraid as of yet have had no need to use it.
Good luck with your move, I love it here.
I had to register my car for Irish plates ( €470 for 2001 Golf ), then get the road tax ( a whopping €670 for a year! ) then change my UK driving licence for Irish licence as you can't drive/own an Irish plate car on UK licence.
Everything here is great and ( I think ) much cheaper than living in UK apart from the car situation. That is our biggest expense.
Can't comment on the health care I'm afraid as of yet have had no need to use it.
Good luck with your move, I love it here.
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 2
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
Thank you very much for the replies so far. I think i'll try and open an account first of all with Bank of Ireland, see how I get on with that.
There seems to be so much to sort out but I know it'll be worth it when we actually land there.
Thanks again
There seems to be so much to sort out but I know it'll be worth it when we actually land there.
Thanks again
#5
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
Regarding your driving licence, there is no need to exchange it for an irish one until the photo card is due to expire (10 years after issue). You can drive an irish registered car quite legally on a uk licence as it is (for now) an eu licence.
I can't post a link (due to access here) but just google 'uk driving licence ireland' and the first link is the Irish National Drivers Licence Service and it explains it all.
What jenny-laurel might be getting confused with is the rather strange law that an Irish resident cannot legally drive a car registered outside the state when in the state i.e. you can't drive a UK registered car in Ireland if you are a resident here.
Also regarding your question about 'wifi' I assume you mean broadband internet? Basically it is very hit and miss, coverage maps area available but they are also a little in accurate in places. Most places will have broadband available but eh speed could be low. Unfortunately if you're ina bad coverage area there is little you can do about it.
I can't post a link (due to access here) but just google 'uk driving licence ireland' and the first link is the Irish National Drivers Licence Service and it explains it all.
What jenny-laurel might be getting confused with is the rather strange law that an Irish resident cannot legally drive a car registered outside the state when in the state i.e. you can't drive a UK registered car in Ireland if you are a resident here.
Also regarding your question about 'wifi' I assume you mean broadband internet? Basically it is very hit and miss, coverage maps area available but they are also a little in accurate in places. Most places will have broadband available but eh speed could be low. Unfortunately if you're ina bad coverage area there is little you can do about it.
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
Regarding your driving licence, there is no need to exchange it for an irish one until the photo card is due to expire (10 years after issue). You can drive an irish registered car quite legally on a uk licence as it is (for now) an eu licence.
I can't post a link (due to access here) but just google 'uk driving licence ireland' and the first link is the Irish National Drivers Licence Service and it explains it all.
What jenny-laurel might be getting confused with is the rather strange law that an Irish resident cannot legally drive a car registered outside the state when in the state i.e. you can't drive a UK registered car in Ireland if you are a resident here.
Also regarding your question about 'wifi' I assume you mean broadband internet? Basically it is very hit and miss, coverage maps area available but they are also a little in accurate in places. Most places will have broadband available but eh speed could be low. Unfortunately if you're ina bad coverage area there is little you can do about it.
I can't post a link (due to access here) but just google 'uk driving licence ireland' and the first link is the Irish National Drivers Licence Service and it explains it all.
What jenny-laurel might be getting confused with is the rather strange law that an Irish resident cannot legally drive a car registered outside the state when in the state i.e. you can't drive a UK registered car in Ireland if you are a resident here.
Also regarding your question about 'wifi' I assume you mean broadband internet? Basically it is very hit and miss, coverage maps area available but they are also a little in accurate in places. Most places will have broadband available but eh speed could be low. Unfortunately if you're ina bad coverage area there is little you can do about it.
If you want to reduce road tax, it is a lot cheaper to drive a newer car and can sometimes make financial sense. While jenny-laurel said she is paying a whopping €670, I pay €280 a year. If you calculate the rod tax for an older car, higher insurance (some insurers do not even insure a car that's older than 10 years) + repairs, you could save a lot more money.
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 37
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
Regarding your driving licence, there is no need to exchange it for an irish one until the photo card is due to expire (10 years after issue). You can drive an irish registered car quite legally on a uk licence as it is (for now) an eu licence.
I can't post a link (due to access here) but just google 'uk driving licence ireland' and the first link is the Irish National Drivers Licence Service and it explains it all.
What jenny-laurel might be getting confused with is the rather strange law that an Irish resident cannot legally drive a car registered outside the state when in the state i.e. you can't drive a UK registered car in Ireland if you are a resident here.
Also regarding your question about 'wifi' I assume you mean broadband internet? Basically it is very hit and miss, coverage maps area available but they are also a little in accurate in places. Most places will have broadband available but eh speed could be low. Unfortunately if you're ina bad coverage area there is little you can do about it.
I can't post a link (due to access here) but just google 'uk driving licence ireland' and the first link is the Irish National Drivers Licence Service and it explains it all.
What jenny-laurel might be getting confused with is the rather strange law that an Irish resident cannot legally drive a car registered outside the state when in the state i.e. you can't drive a UK registered car in Ireland if you are a resident here.
Also regarding your question about 'wifi' I assume you mean broadband internet? Basically it is very hit and miss, coverage maps area available but they are also a little in accurate in places. Most places will have broadband available but eh speed could be low. Unfortunately if you're ina bad coverage area there is little you can do about it.
#8
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
Fair enough, you were misinformed.
From NDLS (National Driver License Service) Website (also repeated on citizens information):
"If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid. If you wish to exchange your driving licence for an equivalent Irish driving licence, you must do so within 10 years of your driving licence expiring."
This isn't a personal attack, just trying to prevent the misinformation spreading.
Have a good day!
From NDLS (National Driver License Service) Website (also repeated on citizens information):
"If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid. If you wish to exchange your driving licence for an equivalent Irish driving licence, you must do so within 10 years of your driving licence expiring."
This isn't a personal attack, just trying to prevent the misinformation spreading.
Have a good day!
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 54
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
Property tax is about €27 per month for 2018.
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Retiring to Co. Sligo
There is a sliding scale for property tax. See the entry here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_...y_tax_(Ireland)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_...y_tax_(Ireland)