FAQs
Q1: Can I attend hospital in Northern Ireland for general and maternity reasons? At present my husband and I work in the Republic of Ireland but live in Northern Ireland. We want to check our medical entitlements, both general and maternity, in Northern Ireland.
Q2: Can you tell me where I can claim maternity benefit? I am already registered with a doctor in Northern Ireland as I was born here and lived in Northern Ireland until I went to work in Dublin a number of years ago. We now both live in Northern Ireland but work in the Republic of Ireland.
Q3: Can I also confirm that my husband is able to register with a doctor in Northern Ireland even though he works in the Republic of Ireland?
Q4: My daughter starts college in Dublin next week (We live in Northern Ireland) She also has been successful in obtaining a job there. Does she need to apply for a National Insurance Number or can she use her Northern Ireland one. If yes how does she go about this?
Q5: Am I eligible to take part in Bridge to Employment programmes if I reside in the Republic of Ireland: and if so can I access all of the support payments, such as childcare and travel expenses?
Q6: Can I legally do the following... ?
I live in N Ireland. I am currently employed in the N.I.Civil Service and pay tax to the UK Government. I am considering a move to the Republic of Ireland.(I would be moving less than 10 miles from my present address) I have children of primary school age, and intend to keep them at their present school in Northern Ireland.
I have made enquiries about schools and people appear reluctant to give advice. I am worried about changing my children from their school as the primary school in Donegal appears to be a different format from schools in N Ireland.
Q7: Can my children transfer to post primary schools within Northern Ireland ?
Q8: What Documentation do I require to open a Bank Account in the Republic of Ireland?
Q9: Can you give me some information on the Republic of Ireland's participation in European and Monetary Union?
Q10: What is the national minimum wage in Northern Ireland?
Q11: I am a resident of the Republic of Ireland, can I take up a training place on a Jobskills training programme in Northern Ireland?
Q12: I am presently working in Dublin five days a week and returning to my family home in Northern Ireland at the weekends. Do I need to change my car registration to the Republic of Ireland?
Q13: Do I require the Irish Language to apply for a post in the Irish Civil Service?
Q14: I wish to apply for a teaching post in a secondary school in the Republic of Ireland, do I require a qualification in the Irish language?
Q15: Do I require Irish to teach in a primary school in the Republic of Ireland?
Q16: What do I require to join the Garda Siochana?
Q17: I am a cross-border worker. I live in the Republic of Ireland and work in Northern Ireland. What health benefits am I entitled to and in which jurisdiction?
Q18: If I work in Northern Ireland and live in the Republic of Ireland, to which jurisdiction do I pay my tax?
Q19: I live in Northern Ireland and have worked in the Republic of Ireland, I am about to be declared redundant by my employer. Where do I claim unemployment benefits and how much are they?
Q20: I am a retired person who worked in the Republic of Ireland whilst living in Northern Ireland. Since my retirement I receive a pension from the company's pension scheme. I have been told I do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payments is this correct?
Q21: I have been told that as a Northern Ireland person who uses my car on business trips to the Republic of Ireland that there is a possibility that I am not covered comprehensively for these trips. Is this true?
Q22: I am a retired schoolteacher resident in Northern Ireland. During my working years I taught in a school in the Republic of Ireland and now receive a work related pension from there. I am taxed on this pension in the Republic of Ireland. I have recently become aware of a saving scheme by which the Republic of Ireland Government would contribute one pound for every three pounds invested in a personal saving scheme. I am told I do not qualify for this scheme?
Q1: Can I attend hospital in Northern Ireland for general and maternity reasons? At present my husband and I work in the Republic of Ireland but live in Northern Ireland. We want to check our medical entitlements, both general and maternity, in Northern Ireland.
As cross-border workers you and your husband are entitled to receive medical treatment/maternity care on either side of the border. Both of you should have a 'medical card'; be registered with a doctor in Northern Ireland and maternity care will be available when required. BACK TO TOP
Q2: Can you tell me where I can claim maternity benefit? I am already registered with a doctor in Northern Ireland as I was born here and lived in Northern Ireland until I went to work in Dublin a number of years ago. We now both live in Northern Ireland but work in the Republic of Ireland.
Maternity pay should be paid through your employer similar to what your Republic of Ireland colleagues would receive. Child benefit (formerly Family Allowance) is claimed through Republic of Ireland (Child Benefit Office). Claims can also be made (if appropriate) for Family Income Support, CTC (Child tax credit), or WTC (Working Tax Credit) all through Republic of Ireland authorities.
Once claims have been assessed in Republic of Ireland, applications can then be made to Northern Ireland (UK) authorities to check if any top-up payments may be in order. BACK TO TOP
Q3: Can I also confirm that my husband is able to register with a doctor in Northern Ireland even though he works in the Republic of Ireland?
I have been informed by a person from the Dept for Health and Social Services and Public Safety that:
"Eligibility to health services in Northern Ireland is dependant on whether a person is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland and not to nationality, the payment of National Insurance contributions or taxes. This decision on residency is made by the Central Services Agency when a person applies for a medical card."
Therefore, provided that your husband's permanent residence is in Northern Ireland (UK) then he is entitled to a medical card issued by the Central Services Agency (Belfast) which will allow him to register with a doctor under the NHSS.
If however your husband worked in the Republic of Ireland from Monday to Friday and retuned to your home in Northern Ireland at the weekend then 'residency' would be denied as the main residence would be deemed to be the Republic of Ireland. BACK TO TOP
Q4: My daughter starts college in Dublin next week (We live in Northern Ireland) She also has been successful in obtaining a job there. Does she need to apply for a National Insurance Number or can she use her Northern Ireland one. If yes how does she go about this?
The Republic of Ireland equivalent of the National Insurance (NI) number is the Personal Public Service (PPS) number. Regardless of whether she requires a PPS number for employment purposes, it may be useful if she intends to open a bank account, register with a doctor, etc. See the requirements below. (Proof of address can be an address in the European Union, i.e. Northern Ireland)
It is a relatively straight forward process and her employer will be able to provide local advice, i.e. address/location of Social Welfare Office.
Rules:
Only your local Social Welfare Office can provide you with a PPS number. In order to receive a number, you will need to fill out an application form and provide proof of your identity.
If you are Irish, you will need to produce the following documents:
The long version of your birth certificate
And
Photographic ID, such as your passport or driving licence
And
Evidence of your address, such as a household bill in your name. BACK TO TOP
Q5: Am I eligible to take part in Bridge to Employment programmes if I reside in the Republic of Ireland: and if so can I access all of the support payments, such as childcare and travel expenses?
Unemployed people resident in the Republic of Ireland are entitled to attend Bridge to Employment courses but need to discuss their entitlement to benefits and allowances with the Training Authority FÁS. None of these benefits will be paid by a Northern Ireland Government Department. BACK TO TOP
Q6: Primary Schools - Can I legally do the following... ?
I live in N Ireland. I am currently employed in the N.I.Civil Service and pay tax to the UK Government. I am considering a move to the Republic of Ireland.(I would be moving less than 10 miles from my present address) I have children of primary school age, and intend to keep them at their present school in Northern Ireland.
I have made enquiries about schools and people appear reluctant to give advice. I am worried about changing my children from their school as the primary school in Donegal appears to be a different format from schools in N Ireland. BACK TO TOP
Q7: Can my children transfer to post primary schools within Northern Ireland ?
Children presently attending primary school in Northern Ireland whose parents relocate to the Republic of Ireland can at the discretion of the school management committee continue to attend their present school.
Secondary School/Grammar School enrolment. Children resident in the Republic of Ireland are deemed to be 'outside the jurisdiction' and will automatically go to the bottom of a secondary school's/grammar school's (consideration) list when applying their admissions criteria.
In the case of an oversubscribed secondary school this would mean that children who meet the preceding criteria will gain a place before a child whose address is in the Republic of Ireland. The Transfer grade plays no part in the admissions criteria for a secondary school. If however the secondary school is under-subscribed then the child will be admitted (at the discretion of the school management committee).
In the case of a Grammar School its unlikely that a child resident in the Republic of Ireland would be admitted unless that school is under-subscribed . The school would apply their admissions criteria which would again place the Republic of Ireland child last, regardless of the transfer test grade. Grammar schools in Northern Ireland are generally over-subscribed with applicants. BACK TO TOP
Q8 What Documentation do I require to open a Bank Account in the Republic of Ireland?
Opening a bank account can be challenging, as banks are required to have proof of your local address before granting you an account. It is recommended that you get a letter of introduction from your employer stating your start date and social insurance number. If you bring this to the institution where your company banks, it may speed up the process.
Many banks are affiliated with banks in the United Kingdom and you should enquire at your existing bank as to the possibilities of setting up an account for you in the Republic of Ireland before you arrive here.
The following is a list of documents that may be useful when opening a bank account in the Republic of Ireland:
Passport;
Driver's Licence;
Your old RSI number (if you have previously worked in the Republic of Ireland);
Your social security number;
Birth Certificate;
Marriage Certificate (if applicable);
Bank account details and a reference from your present bank;
Evidence of your new position and salary. BACK TO TOP
Q9: Can you give me some information on the Republic of Ireland's participation in European and Monetary Union?
On 1st January 1999 the Republic of Ireland officially became a member of the EMU (European and Monetary Union) along with 10 other European countries which meant that all member states would be using a common currency, the euro (€).
Conversion rates between all the participating currencies and the euro were formally fixed and the euro became the legal currency in these countries. Although no euro notes or coins will be available for daily use until 1st January 2002, many businesses are already trading, invoicing and receiving payment in euros.
National currencies, such as the Irish Pound (Punt) will continue to exist until 2002 when euro notes and coins will be issued simultaneously in all EMU countries. Thereafter (apart from a short transitional period) all transactions will be in euros only.
Republic of Ireland's fixed rate against the Euro is 0.787564 = I Euro BACK TO TOP
Q10: What is the national minimum wage in Northern Ireland?
The rates of the national minimum wage will change in October 2011 but presently are:
a general minimum wage level of £5.93 an hour; ;
a minimum level of £4.92 an hour for 18-20 year olds; BACK TO TOP
Q11: I am a resident of the Republic of Ireland, can I take up a training place on a Jobskills training programme in Northern Ireland?
Yes, all of the Training Employment Agency's Jobskills courses are open to residents of the Republic of Ireland. However you will not be paid a Training Allowance or Travel Allowance and you will be required to supply your own Safety Equipment, i.e. hard hat, goggles, etc. BACK TO TOP
Q12: I am presently working in Dublin five days a week and returning to my family home in Northern Ireland at the weekends. Do I need to change my car registration to the Republic of Ireland?
The requirement is that your car should be registered in the jurisdiction in which your main dwelling is located. If you are single, with no responsibilities in Northern Ireland, then the interpretation will be that your main residence is your address in Dublin.
However, if you have responsibilities in Northern Ireland (e.g. you are married and maintaining a family home) then you could reasonably argue that your main residence is in Northern Ireland. The onus lies with you to prove your case to the authorities. BACK TO TOP
Q13: Do I require the Irish Language to apply for a post in the Irish Civil Service?
No, you must be a citizen of a European Union member state and there is no specific requirement for the Irish language. BACK TO TOP
Q14: I wish to apply for a teaching post in a secondary school in the Republic of Ireland, do I require a qualification in the Irish language?
No, the following is the text of the Press Release dated 24th June 1999 of Micheál Martin, T.D. Minister for Education and Science regarding change to the Irish language requirement for second level teaching
"The Minister for Education and Science, Micheál Martin, T.D., today announced a change to the Irish requirement for appointment as a teacher in second level schools.
Shortly after coming into office, the Minister reviewed the Irish requirement and, following that review, standardised the requirement across the second level sector.
The current position is that all second level teachers are required to have passed the oral component of the Ceard Teastas Gaeilge examination. Teachers who, on appointment, do not have the requisite qualification in Irish, are allowed a period of three years in which to acquire this.
"Following a further review of the Irish requirement I have decided that it should be removed for the generality of second level teachers who are not required to use Irish in their everyday work".
The Minister stressed that teachers of Irish and teachers employed in Gaeltacht schools and in other schools where Irish is the medium of instruction will be required to be fully proficient in Irish.
The Minister also pointed out that the removal of the Irish requirement will facilitate the mobility of teachers between the Republic and Northern Ireland and this will be to the benefit of teachers and pupils and to the education systems in both jurisdictions.
"I am committed to the Irish language and see the existence of the current requirement for second level teachers as unduly negative and counterproductive. I am confident that the change which I am announcing today will ultimately be to the benefit both in the standing and status of Irish in our schools and among our teachers" the Minister said.
The change will come into effect from the beginning of the 1999/00 school year" BACK TO TOP
Q15: Do I require Irish to teach in a primary school in the Republic of Ireland?
Yes, strictly speaking you do require a qualification in the Irish language to teach in a primary school. However, if you apply for a post and are successful you will be allowed up to five years to obtain the qualification. BACK TO TOP
Q16: What do I require to join the Garda Siochana?
You must be aged between eighteen and twenty-six on the specified date of entry, not less than 5'9" (175.26cms) tall in the case of men and 5' 5" (165.10cms) in the case of women.
Be in good mental and physical health and be of good character.
The minimum education qualifications are Grade D in at least five Ordinary Level subjects in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent), which must include Irish, English and Mathematics.
Vacancies are advertised by the Civil Service Commissioners and applications are only accepted following such an announcement. Application forms (during a competition) can be obtained from any Garda station or Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin. BACK TO TOP
Q17: I am a cross-border worker. I live in the Republic of Ireland and work in Northern Ireland. What health benefits am I entitled to and in which jurisdiction?
Under European Union Regulation a frontier worker (cross-border worker) is entitled to sickness and maternity benefits in both the member states in which he/she is employed and the member state in which he/she resides.
Dependents of frontier workers are only covered under the legislation of the state in which he/she resides unless there is an agreement between the relevant states or institutions involved.
In the Republic of Ireland dependants of a frontier worker are entitled to a medical card. However if the spouse is employed or self employed in the Republic of Ireland, they and their dependants come under Republic of Ireland legislation, i.e. lose their automatic entitlement to a medical card and are subject to a means test where both their income and the income of the frontier worker is assessed. BACK TO TOP
Q18: If I work in Northern Ireland and live in the Republic of Ireland, to which jurisdiction do I pay my tax?
Income tax is collected in the jurisdiction in which you work; therefore you will pay income tax in Northern Ireland.
If you are employed you come under the Pay As You Earn system, which means your income tax liability is assessed and you are issued with a tax code. Your employer will use this code to determine what deductions to make for income tax from your wages at source. (Other deductions may be made such as National Insurance contributions.)
If you are self-employed you must register with the tax authority and pay income tax on your earnings. You are required to self assess your tax liability and make payments to the Inland Revenue accordingly. BACK TO TOP
Q19: I live in Northern Ireland and have worked in the Republic of Ireland, I am about to be declared redundant by my employer. Where do I claim unemployment benefits and how much are they?
In general European legislation links contribution based benefits to the scheme where Social Insurance Contributions have been made or where the most recent contribution has been made. An exception to this rule exists in relation to unemployment. The legislation in regard to long-term and full unemployment provides that the country of residence is responsible for payment of the contributory benefit in such cases.
Frontier workers who live in Northern Ireland, who have been employed in the Republic of Ireland and who have contributed to the National Insurance Scheme in the Republic of Ireland cannot claim the more generous Unemployment Benefit in the Republic (£77.50 payable for 15 months with additions for an adult dependent and children in specific circumstances) but must make their claim in their country of residence.
In Northern Ireland the equivalent benefit is contribution based Jobseekers Allowance which is payable for six months at £52.20. Additions for dependants are not attached to contribution based JSA (but may be available through means tested benefits). BACK TO TOP
Q20: I am a retired person who worked in the Republic of Ireland whilst living in Northern Ireland. Since my retirement I receive a pension from the company's pension scheme. I have been told I do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payments is this correct?
These payments are available to people over 60 years of age who are in receipt of state Retirement Pension or a number of other benefits in Northern Ireland and who reside in Northern Ireland. They usually consist of one off payments, which amounted to £100.00 in 1999.
Elderly people living in Northern Ireland and in receipt of State Retirement Pension or Income Support automatically qualified for the payment. People who were in receipt of pension payments from the Republic of Ireland were not able to avail of this scheme if they were not in receipt of any of the qualifying benefits in Northern Ireland. As they resided in Northern Ireland they were not eligible for the Free Fuel Schemes in the Republic of Ireland. BACK TO TOP
Q21: I have been told that as a Northern Ireland person who uses my car on business trips to the Republic of Ireland that there is a possibility that I am not covered comprehensively for these trips. Is this true?
Frontier workers who live in Northern Ireland and work in the Republic have difficulty getting comprehensive insurance cover for business use of their car in the Republic of Ireland. People in Northern Ireland who use their car to attend meetings or other travel connected to their occupation, may not be aware that many well known motor insurance companies trading in Northern Ireland do not provide comprehensive insurance cover with regard to business use of motor cars in the Republic. All Insurance companies must provide civil liability insurance cover for travel within the European Union on motor insurance policies. BACK TO TOP
Q22: I am a retired schoolteacher resident in Northern Ireland. During my working years I taught in a school in the Republic of Ireland and now receive a work related pension from there. I am taxed on this pension in the Republic of Ireland. I have recently become aware of a saving scheme by which the Republic of Ireland Government would contribute one pound for every three pounds invested in a personal saving scheme. I am told I do not qualify for this scheme?
To participate in this scheme you are required to be resident in the Republic of Ireland, so I'm afraid you do not qualify. BACK TO TOP