A new Government and industry programme, which will allow graduates of different backgrounds to convert their expertise into Information and Communications Technology skills, was launched today.
Graduates can apply to ten educational institutes around the country for one of the 750 places on the newly-launched conversion courses.
The new courses have been designed in conjunction with ICT companies and will address specific skills shortages in the technology area.
Courses will commence in March and will involve two 12-week terms followed by a three-month work placement.
The application process opens today and those who secure a place will not lose social welfare benefits.
All the courses will be subsidised by the Department of Education and graduates will not have to pay any fees.
Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn said: "Providing the right skills at the right time for the right jobs is absolutely essential if we are to get the Irish economy back on its feet.
''We need to take action to develop a sustainable domestic supply of high level ICT skills over time to drive the further expansion and development of the sector and to support innovation and growth across other sectors of the economy.''
The action plan also sets out how Ireland is going to build the supply and quality of graduates in the medium-term to long-term.
It establishes a target of doubling the annual output of ICT graduates from 1,000 this year to 2,000 by 2018.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said the Government's plan to get jobs and growth back into the country ''will have no big bang solution'', but will require transformation across all sectors and a step-by-step rebuilding of the economy.
Mr Bruton added: ''A key part of this will be to get the greatest possible benefit out of the strengths we have, and the ICT sector, where there are over 1000 vacancies and great potential for future growth, provides a major opportunity for employment if we can provide the necessary skills.''
