Ireland and the euro

Ireland at a glance

Surface area: 70 300 km²
Population: 4 209 019 (Eurostat 2006, provisional figure)
Joined the European Union: 1 January 1973
Currency: Euro since 1 January 1999 (formerly Irish pound/punt, IEP)

Euro information

Status: Euro-area member since 1 January 1999.

Fixed conversion rate: €1 = 0.787564 IEP

Adoption of the euro: The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in Ireland on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years when the euro was the official currency but only existed as ‘book money’. The dual circulation period – when both the Irish pound and the euro had legal tender status – ended on 9 February 2002.

Exchange of former national currency: The Central Bank of Ireland continues to exchange Irish pound banknotes and coins for an unlimited period.

Euro-related queries: webmaster@finance.gov.ie

Documents and publications

• Documents and publications from the euro changeover are available on the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland website.

Opinion polls and surveys

• Public opinion and the single currency (Eurobarometer website)

Downloads

• National sides of Irish euro coins
• Irish commemorative coins

Websites

Euro websites

• Euro Changeover Board of Ireland website (still operational, but no longer updated)
• Archived websites on the euro

Institutions

• Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland
• Department of Finance

Business

• Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC)
• Euro Info Centres Ireland
• Irish Chambers of Commerce
• Enterprise Ireland

Consumers

• Consumers’ Association of Ireland