Scallaghan,
If you wish to go on to do an IR, may I suggest that you do your IMC with a commercial school that has a good reputation for their IR training. The IR is not easy and requires a great deal of formality and multitasking that is often lacking in the IMC training. No matter what it costs (IR training rates are typically twice the IMC rates) I would strongly suggest you will get best value for money by doing the IMC at the school where you will eventually do your IR, and let them know you will be going on to do the IR.
I learnt the above advice the hard way (i.e. with my own money), as I did the IMC rating several years before the IR.
Hope the training goes well. Enjoy it; it costs enough!
QNH 1013