FAQs (English)

1. What are the names of the new Member States?
2. Do citizens of the new Member States require work permits to work in Ireland?
3. Do citizens of the new Member States have the same employment rights as Irish citizens?
4. Do citizens of the new Member States have the right to register with FÁS for employment?
5. Do citizens of the new Member States have access to FÁS training and employment programmes?
6. Is a job offer necessary in advance of going to Ireland for employment?
7. Do citizens of the new Member States require a PPS (Personal Public Service) number when registering with FÁS?
8. How does one obtain a PPS number?
9. Are citizens of the new Member States entitled to claim social welfare assistance from the Irish authorities?
10. Can citizens of the new Member States transfer Jobseeker Benefit from their home country?
11. What information is available in other European languages?

Answers

1. What are the names of the new Member States ?
   
   In May 2004 ten new countries (Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic) acceded to the European Union. In January 2007 Romania and Bulgaria join European Union.
    
2. Do citizens of the new Member States require work permits to work in Ireland?
   
   Citizens of the 10 new Member States that acceded to the European Union in May 2004 do not require work permits to work in Ireland. They have the same rights as Irish nationals and all other European Union nationals to look for employment in Ireland.
   Bulgarian and Romanian nationals continue to require a permit to take up employment in Ireland. However, these employment permit requirements apply only to the first continuous twelve months of employment in the State. At the end of this twelve month period a Bulgarian or Romanian national will be free to work in Ireland without any further need for an employment permit.
3. Do citizens of the new Member States have the same employment rights as Irish citizens?
   
   Yes. Citizens of the new Member States who are employed in Ireland enjoy the same employment rights as Irish citizens.
   
4. Do citizens of the new Member States have the right to register with FÁS for employment?
   
   Citizens of the Member States, which acceded in May 2004, are treated in exactly the same way as all other EU citizens in relation to job seeking, i.e. they will be entitled to register and avail of interview, guidance and counselling for job placement, as well as accessing and applying for jobs through FÁS Jobs Ireland, free usage of WATIS kiosks, telephone and newspapers in FÁS offices. Citizens of Romania and Bulgaria will still need work permits to work in Ireland (exception as in 2 above).
   
5. Do citizens of the new Member States have access to FÁS training and employment programmes?
   
   Citizens of the Member States have access to FÁS Training and Employment Programmes, subject to eligibility criteria being met.
   
6. Is a job offer necessary in advance of going to Ireland for employment?
   
   No. It is not necessary to have a job offer before travelling to Ireland.
   
7. Do citizens of the new Member States require a PPS (Personal Public Service) number when registering with FÁS?
   
   Yes. Anyone registering for employment with FÁS must have a PPS number.
   
8. How does one obtain a PPS number?
   
   In order to work in Ireland, you will need an Irish PPS. To obtain this, you must visit your local Department of Social Protection Office. For further information on the application process and requirements, phone 01-8748444 or visit the Department of Social Protection website.
   
9. Are citizens of the new Member States entitled to claim social welfare assistance from the Irish authorities?
   
   Citizens of the new Member States who apply for social welfare assistance from the Irish Government must satisfy the Habitual Residency Condition.
   
10. Can citizens of the new Member States transfer Jobseeker Benefit from their home country?
    
    Persons, who have been in employment in another EEA State should be entitled to transfer jobseeker benefit, if eligible, from that country to Ireland for a 3-month period. The transfer is organised by the Social Security Office (or local labour office) in the originating country.
    
11. What information is available in other European languages?
12. Employment Rights in Ireland
    The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation has information on employee legal rights in Ireland (Guide to Labour Law in Ireland, unfair dismissals, payment of wages, terms of employment, holidays and public holidays, etc.) This Information is also available in ten languages: Chinese, Czech, English, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Russian.
13. Health & Safety in the Horticultural Sector
    Information on health and safety in the horticultural sector is available from Bord Bia in English, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and Russian.