The industry: Some 126,000 people are employed in the tourism sector.

There are more than 800 hotels in the Republic.

Sixty per cent of Irish restaurants are owned by people who started their careers as commichefs or commi-waiter/ waitresses.

The number of restaurants in Ireland has doubled in the last 10 years.

Source: The Irish Hotels Federation.

Useful addresses: information on careers in the restaurant sector is available from the Restaurants Association of Ireland head offices, 11 Bridge Court, City Gate, Dublin 8. Tel: (01) 677 9901.

The Irish Hotels Federation, 13 Northbrook Road, Dublin 6. Tel: (01) 497 6459.

CERT, CERT House, Amiens Street, Dublin 1. Tel: (01) 884 7700

CERT National Craft Certificate courses: one or two year full-time courses in professional cookery are offered in Athlone IT, Cork IT, DIT, Dundalk IT, Galway/Mayo IT, Sligo IT, Tallaght IT, Tralee IT, WIT, Limerick Tourism College, Killybegs, CERT Hotel School and Centre. Contact CERT.

Courses available through the CAO: DIT Cathal Brugha Street - degree in culinary arts; certificate in culinary arts (professional chef).

Chefs' Salaries: 44 per cent are earning £15,000 to £20,000, with seven per cent earning £20,000 to £25,000 and two per cent earning in excess of £25,000.

At head chef level, 42 per cent are earning between £25,000 to £35,000 with 14 per cent earning between £35,000 and £50,000. Source: IHF survey (1999)

Sample starting salaries: expect to earn between £150 and £300 a week, according to CERT.