The first part of this section provides information on state agencies that can provide information and support services to in-company mobility centres. The second part gives details on services provided by private sector companies including recruitment agencies, out-placement consultants, etc.

The final part of this section provides links to web sites which focus on employee mobility.

FAS provides a range of services for both employers and job-seekers which can be of benefit to in-company mobility centres.

For companies who need to reduce staff numbers, FAS Employment Services can be an important local resource. There are 57 Employment Services Offices throughout the country and they provide a registration, information, guidance and advice, referral and placement service for job-seekers. The Employment Service Officer will compile a profile of the job-seeker's educational qualifications, work experience, aptitudes and interests. This information can be then entered into the FAS database of job-seekers which employers who are seeking to recruit suitable staff can search.

This database of job-seekers can also be valuable resource for mobility centres which are seeking to recruit new employees. The FAS job bank allows employers to search for suitable staff in a variety of occupations up to and including senior technical, administrative and professional positions. The Employment Service Offices can also undertake an initial screening of prospective candidates and provide employers with a short-list of candidates, matched to specific job requirements.

Also of relevance to in-company mobility centres is that FAS provide Start Your Own Business/Enterprise training programmes. Individuals who want to start their own business can go on a FAS Business Appraisal Training Programme. This courses allows them to develop business plans, enhance their technical skills and conduct market research into the viability of their business idea. The courses are run in a number of FAS Training Centres and participants must be registered with their local Employment Services Office.

FAS can also be a source of information on training courses and career opportunities. The FAS National Resource Centre for Vocational Guidance provides information on all education and vocational training opportunities in the European Union. The Centre can be accessed by following this link.

Additionally, FAS also provides information on career options through its online Career Directions web site. Viewers can view all careers held on the database or avail of the Career Directions Matching service whereby a list of careers will be identified based on their interests and qualifications.

Information can also be obtained on training programmes provided by FAS at its network of training centres. FAS has a research unit which can be an important source of information on labour market trends.

New services offered by FAS include:

Call Net Service: Employers can call the Call Net Service at 1850-66-77-76 and Call Centre staff will take their vacancy details and register those vacancies on the FAS web site. The vacancies are then relayed to the FAS Employment Service Office network. Staff offer advice to employers on wage rates and other labour market information. There is regular follow up on these vacancies.

Internet Job-Bank: This is an electronic labour market service for employers and job seekers. Employers can register their vacancies and job seekers can put up their CVs. See the FAS web site for further details.

Job Connect: This is a free-phone service for job seekers. Job seekers can contact FAS staff at 1800-611-611 and get details of vacancies by location, job type and preferred hours.

FAS Net College: Consists of web-based training and supportive learning systems. The courses which are delivered on-line over the Internet include Business Skills, Technical Support, Office/Desktop Application and Web Design/Programming. For further details, see the Net College web site.

Information on the complete range of services which FAS can provide is available from its comprehensive web site:

http://www.fas.ie

Forfas, the national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation, has developed the Skills Ireland web site on behalf of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs:

http://www.skillsireland.ie/

Where an in-company mobility centre is advising a client who wishes to start an enterprise, the network of county and city enterprise boards can provide a variety of information and training support services. Grants may also be available to the new enterprise. The enterprise boards generally deal with new enterprises employing ten or less. The Empower web site provides links to all of the county and city enterprise boards:

http://www.empower.ie

There are 38 area-based Partnerships who work to promote social inclusion through the development of disadvantaged areas and communities. Each local partnership is an independent company limited by guarantee with a board of directors drawn from the local community/voluntary sector, local state agencies, local social partners and local elected representatives.

Partnership companies have provided assistance to unemployed people to set up their own businesses.

For more information, contact the Planet web site for information on the Partnership companies:

http://www.planet.ie

County and City Development Boards have been established in each of the 29 county councils and in each of the five major cities to effect an integrated approach to the delivery of both State and local development services at local level. Each Board has been tasked with the development of strategies for economic, social and cultural development. These strategies may be of potential interest to those wishing to explore alternative career/business opportunities.

The collective web site for the network of County/City Development Boards can be viewed at:

http://www.cdb.ie

Where a client of an in-company mobility centre has ambitious plans for a new enterprise that is either going to employ more than ten or has the potential to grow fast, Enterprise Ireland can provide a range of enterprise development supports:

http://www.enterprise-ireland.com

Shannon Development is responsible for development of the industrial, tourism and rural development in the mid-West region including Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary, South Offaly and North Kerry. It provides a range of enterprise development services, further details of which can be found at:

http://www.shannon-dev.ie

The development of Irish-speaking areas is the responsibility of Udaras na Gaeltachta. It provides services and supports for new business development in the Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Meath gaeltacht areas:

http://www.udaras.ie

The BASIS web site was developed to provide businesses with a single access point to all Government information and services. It contains useful information for entrepreneurs on starting a business, funding, the legal and regulatory framework, employment and innovation.

There are a number of sources of information on recruitment agencies in Ireland. These include the NiceOne directory and trade associations such as the National Recruitment Federation.

The NiceOne directory has a listing of recruitment companies in Ireland and also sections dealing with Job Searching, Career Development and Information and Resources.

The National Recruitment Federation (formerly the Irish Federation of Personnel Services) is a representative body for the recruitment sector in Ireland. The mission of the Federation to improve the quality and effectiveness of recruitment services offered to Clients and Candidates and to uphold the professionalism of the recruitment industry.

The Executive Selection Consultancies Association is a US-based international organisation which as its name implies is the industry representative body for firms involved in executive recruitment. The organisation has a number of members that are based in Ireland.

The Golden Pages web site has extensive listings of employment agencies and recruitment specialists. Both categories can be search by name and by area code.

There are a small number of companies involved in the provision of out-placement and career counselling services in Ireland. These include PHI Transition, DBM, Transitionireland and Gavigan Consulting. A search of the Golden Pages web site using the search string "Outplacement services" in the "Type of service" dialogue box will provide a listing of companies in this sector.

The following Internet-based resources can be of assistance to in-company mobility centres wishing to source training and personnel development services.

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is the Irish arm of an international organisation with 105,000 members world-wide responsible for the management and development of people. The Director of CIPD in Ireland is Michael McDonnell.

The Irish Institute for Training and Development based in Naas, Co. Kildare is a professional body for personnel engaged in training and human resource development. The IITD produces an annual directory listing all of its members. It is affiliated to the IFTDO, the International Federation of Training and Development Organisations, and the European Training and Development Federation (ETDF).

Calmar International, a Dublin-based company, produces an extensive directory of training providers, The National Training and Continuing Education Directory. This is described as a "comprehensive directory of training programmes, consultancy services, and training facilities and products available in Ireland." The fifth edition of the directory was published in September 2000.

Training providers can be identified in the Golden Pages web site under the following categories: Communications training, Computer based training, Computer training, Industrial Training, Management Training, Safety Consultants and Training, Sales Training, Speech training, and Schools & colleges [business, commercial and design].

The Qualifax web site in an invaluable online database of courses in third level institutions. Developed by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, Qualifax is particularly useful for students in second level researching career options but it can also be of value for people who want to add to their range of skills. The database contains details of the 3,500 courses available in higher education institutions in Ireland.

The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland provides a range of services including retirement planning courses, seminars, annual conference, workshops, talks, information, advisory and personal counselling.

Email: rpcai@clubi.ie

The experience of many organisations which have down-sized suggests that the provision of information of information on social welfare entitlements is very important. Potential sources of information include:

Department of Social and Family Affairs (contains publications for both employers and individuals on issues such as social welfare entitlement, PRSI, etc.).

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (has produced a number of excellent guides on the social welfare system as well as a recruitment guide for employers and a job seekers guide for those seeking employment).

Though not specifically dealing with social welfare information, the Oasis web site (see below) is well worth checking out.

The Revenue Commissioners is a key information resource for matters relating to taxation.

Oasis, the new public sector information web site, also has information on taxation as well as a guide to public services. It covers issues such as employment rights, employment appeals, health, moving country and major life events.

The Swedish Employers' Confederation and the Federation of Salaried Employees in Industry and Services founded TRR Trygghetsrådet in 1974. The aim was to supplement the various educational and retraining schemes organised and financed by the Government, which had proved insufficient in meeting the special needs of white-collar employees.

The purpose of TRR is to facilitate the downsizing and transition process in its 30,000 affiliated companies which between them employ 650,000 employees. It provides a range of supports and services to employees being made redundant.

The TRR Trygghetsrådet web site while in Swedish features a downloadable English language document which explains in detail the background to the organisation and the services it provides.

http://www.trr.se

Euro Cert is an online information resource for employers, employees, learners, and education or training providers. It seeks to provide specific information about certificates issued in other EU Member States. It allows employers, for example, to check the certificates presented by job applicants and it facilitates individuals through providing explanations and details of certificates issued in Member States.

Euro Cert is an EU Leonardo da Vinci-funded project and includes FAS among its Irish partners:

http://www.eurocert.ie