6,100 new college places have been announced for unemployed people who want to upskill. The Springboard programme allows jobseekers take up a course for free in one of 38 colleges around the country for around a year.

171 courses in 38 colleges are on offer this year. They target areas where jobs are available including ICT and high end manufacturing.

The courses are free to jobseekers and lead to awards at certificate, degree and post-graduate level.

Education Minister Ruairí Quinn said "The biggest challenge facing our country is getting our people back to work and Springboard is aimed at doing exactly that. This year work placements are being offered on almost every Springboard course because such placements are a really important way of improving employment prospects".

Since 2011, 16,429 jobseekers have participated on Springboard courses with a €54 million investment from the exchequer.

Edward Seery from Westmeath is back in employment after doing a Springboard course.

More than six out of ten participants complete their Springboard course - of those who withdraw early, almost one-third do so because they got a job, the government says.