When to do IR?
I speak (type) not from experience, but from what I have heard/learnt from others and what I plan to do in in my own programme of training.
Until recently I had always understood the 'norm' to be to study the CPL first, with the IR at the end (due to higher cost and difficulty of the IR). It is also my understanding (although I stand to be corrected if wrong) that an IR needs renewing as opposed to a CPL.
My plan is to complete my ATPL theory, then do an IMC as part of my pre-CPL hour building (as preparation towards the CPL as it is a couple of years since I've had any formal flight training), then the CPL and then parhaps leave a period before the IR so that I complete training at a time when there will be some sort of work out there..........
However, I was advised by one well known school offering modular training for CPL and IR that it was advisable to complete the IR before the CPL!