Moving Around

Ireland has a well-managed public transport system with the best services found in the major towns and cities around the country.

Dublin, being the capital city, has the best coverage with buses, local trains and The DART (light rail system) servicing Dublin city and county. The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is Dublins suburban rail service, which runs along the coast between Howth in the north of the city and Bray in the south. Fares are comparable to bus fares. Timetables can be obtained from most DART stations. The implementation of a modern tram system, known as Luas, is currently underway and is expected to be fully operational by the year 2005. Dublin Bus also provides a reliable and frequent public bus service throughout the capital city. Dublin Bus offers a scheduled service between approximately 6.30 am and 11.30 pm. www.dublinbus.ie

Inter-County Transport

Most major Irish towns and cities have reliable bus and train services. There are a number of excellent private bus companies that offer cheap fares between Dublin and a number of regional towns and cities.

The average cost of a return bus fare to Cork is c. 27, whilst the same journey by train will cost approximately 49.

Air Travel

Ireland is very well serviced by both international and domestic airport facilities. The main airports are situated in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Shannon and Knock. Most key international locations are serviced by direct flights from Ireland.

Taxis

Taxis can be hailed from the street. Popular taxi ranks are situated at College Green, St. Stephens Green, OConnell St. and at Jurys Hotel Dublin. You can also pre-book a cab by phone (see Golden Pages). Cab offices in the city centre, for example Pony Express on Georges St., often have shorter waiting times and charge a set fare independent of how many passengers there are.

Private Transport

The cost for a 1.8 litre standard car in the Republic of Ireland is circa 28,000 whilst an average 1.6litre car is priced at circa 22,000. The average cost of insuring, a 1.8 litre car, for a 30-year-old man, with a full clean driving license, is circa 700 per annum.

Vehicle Importation

Any person taking up residence in the State may import a motor vehicle. If you're bringing a car with you when you move to Ireland, and you've owned it for at least 6 months, a special set of rules apply. You will not have to pay the expensive 28% import duty. You will have to pay the annual road tax known as the Vehicle Registration Tax or VRT. You'll have to pay this tax by the end of the next working day following its arrival in the State. (This doesn't apply, however, to cars brought in temporarily by visitors.) Once the vehicle has been registered and the VRT paid, a receipt, which specifies the registration number allocated, is supplied. The new registration number must be displayed within three days. You should contact the nearest Revenue Commissoner for details on exemptions and reliefs, and a list of local VRT offices.

Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT)

VRT is payable on the first registration of new and second-hand vehicles. The tax rate varies depending upon the engine size of the vehicle. VRT must be paid within one working day of importation. However, you may be exempt if you are moving within the EU and can show that you bought the car privately, and that VAT was originally paid on it. Value Added Tax (VAT) is currently payable on new vehicles at 21% and is assessed on the value of the vehicle for Customs purposes.

Driving licenses

Holders of a driving license issued by any of the countries listed below may exchange it for an Irish license for the same vehicle classes upon taking up permanent residence in Ireland, without having to sit a driving test:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

A temporary visitor to Ireland may legally drive here providing he or she holds a valid license issued in his or her country of residence or an international driving permit.

Note that the holder of a license for a vehicle with automatic transmission, for example the majority of American cars, may only drive automatic cars in Ireland.

The Irish driving test, administered by the Department of the Environment, consists of a short oral examination on the rules of the road plus a short (less than 1 hour) road test, which includes hill starts, reversing around corners, and a turnabout manoeuvre.