The Government has announced new training programmes for up to 6,500 long-term unemployed.
The initiative, called Momentum, will target the under-25s.
The 62 new short courses are in areas where there are job opportunities, such as ICT, digital media and healthcare.
They will include on-the-job training and the courses are mostly being provided by the private sector.
They will range in duration from 11 weeks to 25, and will be free, and full or part-time.
Separately, the principal of a flagship College of Further Education has criticised the Budget decision to cut around 200 teaching jobs in the Post Leaving Certificate courses sector.
Maureen Conway of Ballyfermot College of Further Education has said her college will lose more than 10% of its staff as a result and will be forced to cut course provision.
The college is acclaimed for the success of its animation graduates.
