A new scheme aimed at training people who have been unemployed for more than three months has been launched by Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan.
Jobfit targets people who have been in receipt of Social Welfare for three months or more, further education and job preparation training.
The programme is free and provides training of up to 13 weeks.
It will be provided by TBG Learning at 11 centres.
The initiative is being funded by the labour market activation fund, which will provide training to a total of 12,000 people across 59 individual projects.
Launching the initiative today, the Tánaiste said Jobfit is already showing evidence of getting people back to work.
