The island of Ireland is made up of two parts geographically the smaller northern
Ireland that is a province of the UK and the independent southern Ireland or
Eire.
We have quite a lot of work done towards being able to provide member
services in both parts of Ireland, and should have a web site running from early
in 2005 covering this, and live member services from the summer of 2005.
From a statistical viewpoint the island of Ireland is very much smaller than
the UK mainland and has a very much smaller population, but about the same number
of self built homes at the current time. Although geographically not that far
from the UK, our operations in Ireland require separate provision.
The two parts of Ireland are quite different, have completely different
policies on planning control, on building rules. Eire is in the single currency European
arrangement using the euro and northern Ireland uses the British pound. Religion
has always effected politics in Ireland with the northern being dominated by
protestants and the south highly influenced by Catholics. For many years,
centuries perhaps, terrorism was prevalent, caused by sections on each
side, with the catholic based groups wanting a united catholic Ireland and
the protestants, a northern state attached to the UK, through these problems at an
earlier point the country become split, with Catholics controlling an
independent part and the other part remaining connected with the UK, however
problems continue to this day with a large catholic minority in the north not
having effective representation, due to the electoral system. Most of the worst
of the violence has now passed and the island is now mostly peaceful, however the
two communities in the north are very polarized, so that protestants generally
do not feel safe to move to catholic districts and Catholics avoid protestant
districts, at one time large walls divided some of these areas. Currently
northern Ireland is ruled by London, as the politicians in its own assembly will
not talk to each other. Eire has not been so effected by these troubles.
Members from outside Ireland may like to look at Eire at this time rather
than the north, as plots are far more plentiful, there is less red tape and polarization
of the community unlikely to be a problem. Members of child bearing age should
be aware that one of the effects of catholic influence in Eire is that contraception
is not officially permitted, although there are possibly special conditions that
may get around this.
This page will be replaced as soon as the web site has been completed and perhaps
some information can then be updated.
web site links
Clubs Ireland Websites are still in development - expected to be live January or February
2005
You may find some useful information within the international section of our website
for UK members and on the website of the Property
Pension Club
Our website for members in Ireland - Site not yet live - www.self-build-ireland.com
Joint SBHC and Property Club International website for members outside
Ireland (In development) www.self-build-ireland.org
Language - English
Currency Euro (South) UK pounds (north)
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