European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Ireland

Telephones - main lines in use:
1.955 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.4 million (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave
radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: country code - 353; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
2.55 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:
1.82 million (2001)

Internet country code:
.ie

Internet hosts:
162,228 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2000)

Internet users:
1.26 million (2003)

Transportation Ireland

Railways:
total: 3,312 km
broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (46 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat
Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants)
(2004)

Highways:
total: 95,736 km
paved: 95,736 km (including 125 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:
753 km (pleasure craft only) (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 1,795 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

Merchant marine:
total: 39
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Italy 3, Norway 1, Switzerland 1,
United Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 18 (2005)

Airports:
36 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)

Military Ireland

Military branches:
Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps)

Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlistees under the
age of 17 c