Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has announced a number of measures to help those who are unemployed.
She said the Department of Social and Family Affairs and FÁS are working closely together to respond quickly to the rise in unemployment.
FÁS is putting in place measures to provide increased capacity to help those seeking jobs.
These measures include direct referrals from DSFA to the local employment services and the redeployment of staff to this area.
In addition, FÁS will provide an additional 51,000 places over the 27,000 previously planned in 2009 under the Bridging Foundation Training, Specific Skills Training and Traineeships Programmes.
The programmes will provide short training courses for job-changers or those who are recently unemployed.
The Tánaiste added that efforts will continue to be made to develop new programmes.
The Government is to bring forward other measures to ensure that those on the Live Register receive the appropriate training and up-skilling so as to be in a position to contribute to the economy when the upturn occurs, she said.
Las Vegas trip questioned
Meanwhile, Fine Gael has asked the Tánaiste about an Enterprise Ireland visit to Las Vegas for 22 directors of building companies.
Fine Gael's Ulick Burke asked Ms Coughlan about what he said was a 'junket to Las Vegas' for builders.
He said Enterprise Ireland was sending the directors to Las Vegas for an international building forum.
He was then ruled out of order by Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue and the Tánaiste was not allowed to reply.
