6,500 new training places have been made available to people on the dole.

Momentum will help job seekers learn skills in areas where there are job opportunities like digital media, sales and ICT.

The scheme not only targets the long-term unemployed but those aged under-25 who are signing on.

Courses are funded by FAS and the Department of Education and Skills and will cost €20 million.

36 education and training providers from both the private and public sector will be offering 62 individual programmes in 87 locations across the country.

Specific projects will also be available for those under-25 to assist them to enter or return to employment.

The Momentum programme is an outcomes-based model of education and training that sees best international practice adapted to an Irish context.

Free full and part-time courses

The courses seek to tailor to both the needs of the long-term job-seeker, but also employers who are experiencing skills shortages.

Courses are free, full and part-time and are aligned to levels 3 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or to an industry required certification within the sector.

The projects range from 11 to 45 weeks in length.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said "We are spending more than €20 million in order to assist thousands of long-term jobseekers in getting new skills and returning to employment in areas where there are currently opportunities".

Paul O'Toole is Director-General of FÁS.

"This programme provides a real opportunity to long-term jobseekers to develop the skills that employers are looking for" he said.

"We believe that the training, education and real experience provided through the projects will significantly enhance participants’ capacity to compete for jobs" he added.

While the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has said the training will focus on sectors of the economy where there are job opportunities.

A number of bodies have welcomed the move.

The primary industry-led skills development initiative in Ireland FIT was today named as one of the training providers that will be awarded funding through the. programme.

It says the courses delivered will all be in the area of Information and Communications Technology.

FIT CEO Peter Davitt said the new funding will enable them to further expand the range of training services that it provides.

"The Momentum initiative will facilitate our ambition to reach many more people who as a result of the current economic environment are currently unable to find appropriate employment" he said.

"We are delighted that the government has decided to put in place such a focused response to the current unemployment challenge and welcome the opportunity to play our part in delivering skills based training" he added.