The Social Welfare Local Office (See www.welfare.ie) will provide you with an RSI number. Ask for form 12A.

You can also contact a Job Facilitator at the Social Welfare Local Office who will help you to contact employers or direct you to training agencies.

FÁS: the Training and Employment Authority provides career information to the public. It is responsible for administering EURES in Ireland and has Euroadvisors in each of its offices.

FÁS has a career information database called Gairm. It includes information on over 325 careers. In addition, details of occupational trends to 2003, information on training and employment opportunities in Ireland, details of FÁS services, and a section on working and living in Ireland for non-nationals who might wish to work or study in Ireland, are also included. Gairm careers information is classified by:

• Occupation
• Interests/Aptitudes
• Job Characteristics
• Qualification
• Alphabetical Order

This computerised career information database informs you about what a career entails, what jobs are suitable, what jobs are available, and how to approach the job and training opportunities that exist.

Information on an additional 180 careers is available on the Interactive Package 'Careers Directions', Tel. 353 1 6070590 for further information.

Contact FÁS general number at 353 1 6070500, Fax 353 1 6070611. Website: see http://www.fas.ie

Newspapers and recruitment agencies are the best source of job information for professionals. The best one is the Irish Times Recruitment Section.

See http://www.ireland.com This is a portal to all major recruitment agencies.