Living in Ireland

College students have a wide choice when it comes to accommodation. Some students choose to stay in on-campus accommodation, which is available in many colleges. All universities have halls of residence, generally apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, living room and bathroom. On campus accommodation must be paid in 2 installments, in September and in February.

In most campus accommodation, it is not possible to pay your rent on a monthly basis. Students who want to be totally independent choose self-catering, rented accommodation. Students pay their rent monthly and in advance. Accommodation can also be found through the local newspapers and estate agents in the cities.  Websites such as Daft.ie or MyHome.ie also contain a large portfolio of rental properties. Moreover, on an average the student living cost comes around €7,000 and €12,000 per year.

Telecommunications in Ireland includes, radio frequency spectrum licensing and the  postal sector, are regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has overall responsibility for national policy and regulation of both telecommunications and broadcasting.

  • Telephone system: This is one of the easier way of communication in Ireland, which includes: Fixed telephone lines and Mobile cellular telephones. There are three mobile telecommunications providers: Three Ireland, Meteor and Vodafone Ireland.
  • Internet in Ireland: In 2013 the Internet in Ireland is used by 77% of the population and is an important contributor to the economy and education. As per the survey:

Internet users: 3.6 million, 77% of the population, 70th in the world .

Dial-up subscriptions: 34,109 or 2.1% of total Internet subscriptions

Fixed broadband subscriptions: 1.045 million or 23% of the population

Mobile broadband subscriptions: 583,755 or 13% of the population

Internet hosts: 1.4 million, 40th in the world.

  • Post – Office – he Post Office has helped keep Irish people in contact with their families at home and abroad for many generations. Post Offices are usually open from 09.00 a.m. to 05.30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 09.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on Saturday. You can also buy stamps at newsagents, supermarkets and some other shops.

Supermarkets are usually open on Monday to Saturday from 08.00 or 09.00 a.m. to 06.00 or 08.00 p.m. In larger cities, supermarkets open twenty-four hours a day. Many are also open on Sundays from around 10.00 a.m. to 05.00 or 06.00 p.m. smaller food shops are often closed on Sundays and may close earlier or later on other days.

Some of the well known shopping Malls in Ireland are as follows: Carroll’s Irish Gifts, St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Butlers Chocolate Café in Dublin, Galway Market, McCarthy’s Jewellery Shop, Galway Crafts and Collectables, Brown Thomas department store in Limerick, Jet land Shopping Centre etc.

Irish cuisine is the style of cooking that originated from Ireland, or was developed by the Irish people. In the 21st century, the usual modern selection of foods common to Western culture has been adopted in Ireland. Common meals include pizza, curry, Chinese food, Thai food, etc. Some of the well-known restaurants in Ireland are as follows: Sligo Restaurants, Dublin Restaurants, Galway Restaurants, Cork Restaurants, Limerick Restaurants etc.

Health care in Ireland is two-tier: public and private sectors. The public health care system is governed by the Health Act 2004, which established a new body to be responsible for providing health and personal social services to everyone living in Ireland – the Health Service Executive. Everyone living in the country, and visitors to Ireland who hold a European Health Insurance Card, are entitled to free maintenance and treatment in public beds in Health Service Executive and voluntary hospitals.

Health centres provide a wide range of primary care and community services in towns and villages throughout Ireland, and are run by the HSE. Services available at these clinics include GP services, public health nurses, social work and child protection services, child health services, community welfare, disability services, older people services, chiropody, ophthalmic, speech therapy, addiction counselling and treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric services, Home Help and more. Some of the well-known hospitals in Ireland are:

Bantry General Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Capping National Orthopaedic Hospital

Cavan Monaghan Hospital, Connolly Hospital Blanchard town, Cork University Hospital etc.