Publication
EURES - Useful Information
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
If you have completed a qualification outside Ireland, you may wish to have it assessed in order to gain employment or undertake further studies in Ireland. You should contact Quality and Qualifications Ireland, the Irish Centre for the recognition of foreign qualifications (information available in English, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian).
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
Tel. +353 -1- 9058100
Web: www.qqi.ie
I have recently moved to Ireland and would like to improve my English. Where can I find information on free or fee paid English courses?
The Advisory Council for English Language Schools provides a list of recognised Schools which teach English as a Foreign Language. Please visit: www.acels.ie for information on English courses in Ireland.
Alternatively, the local libraries may offer linguaphone courses or language exchange groups. A list of local libraries and contact details is available on www.librariesireland.ie.
There are a number of community initiatives in Ireland aimed at helping non-Irish people in Ireland to improve their English. An example is Fáilte Isteach.
Fáilte Isteach is a community project with older volunteers welcoming new migrants through conversational English classes.
Local Education and Training Boards also offer free English Classes, for example: City of Dublin ETB Adult Education Service: free English language classes.
Contact Your Local Education and Training Board for information on ETB Free English Classes
or check FETCH Courses nationwide including English (Enter Keyword: English)
You can also contact one of the Irish EURES Advisers for information on English classes in various regions of Ireland or use one of the free online resources to learn English, including:
"I am a Non-EU National and looking for a job in Ireland. Do I need a work permit in order to get employment in Ireland?"
People seeking to come to work in Ireland from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) require an employment permit.
There are four different types of employment permit:
Please visit Citizens Information for general information on employment permits.
To apply for an employment permit you need to contact the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
"I was working for the last 3 years in Ireland and was recently made redundant. I am considering moving back to Latvia. Can I transfer my unemployment benefit?"
Jobseeker's Benefit may be transferred to another EU or EEA member state for up to 13 weeks, if you are looking for work there. You must be getting Jobseeker's Benefit for 4 weeks before you can transfer it to another EU or EEA member state.
You need to register with the employment services of the country where you have gone to look for work within a week.
You must take Form U2 (which is replacing Form E303) to the social services of the country you are travelling to. You can get a completed Form U2 from your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.
"I was employed in Ireland over the last 12 months and made redundant. I have some work history back in Poland. Can I include the Polish contribution when applying for job seeker benefit in Ireland?"
If you work in Ireland and pay at least one Class A PRSI (social insurance) contribution, your social insurance contributions paid in another EU or EEA country can help you qualify for a social insurance payment such as Illness Benefit or Jobseeker's Benefit.
You should bring a record of your social insurance contributions using forms S041 (formerly E104) and U1 (formerly E301) which you can get from your local social security office in your country.
Requests for S041/E104 (health related benefits) can only be made by the Institutes in the relevant EU member state. The S041 (formerly E104) is an internal form used between different states in the EU/EEA, so the relevant office in your country would request it from the Department of Social Protection directly. The S041 is not something an individual can request. A request must be made directly by the Institute in the EU/EEA to Department of Social Protection by sending an S040. The Institute in the EU/EEA can send the S040 electronically by EESSI – RINA, an internal platform that different EU/EEA states use to request and receive social insurance details.
Requests for the U1 (formerly the E301) for periods spent working in Ireland can be made by completing the U1 form request application available at Claiming Benefits Abroad . Requests for a U1 for work in another jurisdiction can be made by contacting the relevant institution in that EU member state.
I am returning home to Slovakia and will be applying for unemployment benefit over there. What documents do I need to take with me?
If you leave Ireland to live and/or work in another country, you may be entitled to receive social security benefits in the country you are moving to. If you need to claim benefits while living abroad you will be asked to provide information about your Irish social insurance record. You can use forms E104 and U1 (formerly E301) when claiming sickness, maternity or unemployment benefits abroad.
You can request your Irish social insurance record for [document 69370 ] before leaving Ireland. However, the most appropriate way to have a claim issued as quickly as possible is to ask the relevant social security/employment office in your country (EU/EEA) to request the form on your behalf. A request from another EU member state for your social insurance record will be prioritized by the Department of Social Protection so that you don’t lose out on any benefits due to you when abroad.
I will be moving to Ireland from Lithuania very soon, how can I get an Irish Personal Public Service number?
Allocation of PPS numbers is done by face-to-face interview. However, you can book an appointment for a PPS number allocation interview on MyWelfare.ie before you move to Ireland. You should attend the Personal Public Service (PPS) Number Allocation Centres by County in the county that you intend to live in.
Before you can be allocated a PPS number, you must show that one is required for a transaction with a specified body. For example, if you are taking up employment, you need a PPS number to register with the Revenue Commissioners
You will be asked to produce documentary evidence of identity and address in Ireland. Different documentary evidence will be required, depending on your nationality. A complete list of documents required as evidence of your identity and more information on PPS numbers is available on the Get a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number page.