For those who want to study interior design over a six-month period, FAS runs a training course in interior design at its Finglas Training Centre in Dublin, with up to 18 places on each course. This course is mentioned favourably by many people who work in the area of interior design.

The FAS course is aimed specifically at those who are unemployed and redundant and want to update their skills or people who want to change their career, and at those school-leavers who are unable to obtain employment.

Joe Florence, the course instructor, says the majority of people who do the course at Finglas "are very focused. They are people who know that this is the area they want to pursue", says Florence. "They would be fairly committed and have a good degree of motivation." There are not many school-leavers on the course; however those adults who attend come from all over - Galway, Roscommon and Meath are just some of the counties represented on the present course.

He explains that the course covers areas such as colour and colour schemes; drawing as in drafting and scaling plans and doing scaled drawings and the history of interior design, studying the different periods. Those who successfully complete the 24-week course are awarded a City and Guilds Certificate.

For information on interior design contact the FAS Finglas Training Centre at (01) 8348311.