Further Education Minister Simon Harris has announced the launch of 10,000 free college places for the unemployed, self-employed and returners to the workforce.
And as part of the same Springboard programme package, there will be another 1,000 highly-subsidised places where students will only have to pay 10 per cent of fees.
The courses are in areas that have been identified as of critical importance; such as Cybersecurity, Virtual Reality, Health Innovation, Logistics and Online Retail.
READ MORE - Outrage as kids left without a school place while parents 'tearing hair out'
Programmes in Climate, Sustainability and Energy which are central to the Programme for Government are also being funded.
Minister Harris said: "This is providing brilliant opportunities for people to upskill and reskill in areas of skills shortages, futureproof their career, and progress in, or re-enter the workforce.
"Most programmes are delivered either fully online or in a blended format making them fully accessible, meeting the rapidly-evolving needs of our economy and our commitment to lifelong learning.
"Today’s announcement helps us to ensure that our workforce is equipped to respond to the rapid changes in the world of work brought about by digitisation, with courses spanning areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Financial Technologies.
"They will also play a vital role in our response to the green transition by providing funding for programmes in areas such as Climate, Sustainability and Renewable Energy which will provide the skills needed to help us reach our ambitious 2030 targets for energy efficiency and decarbonisation.
"In this, the European Year of Skills, it is vital that we all consider the opportunity to learn a new skill.
"Skills and continuous learning are vital for enabling individuals and countries to thrive in an increasingly, interconnected and rapidly changing world."
The 11,000 courses consist of 8,291 places on 252 courses under Springboard+ 2023 and 2,922 places on 105 courses under Human Capital Initiative Pillar 1 Graduate Conversion Programmes for the academic year 2023/24.
This leads to a combined total of 11,213 places on 357 courses across Springboard+ 2023 and HCI Pillar 1 to be delivered by public and private higher education providers around the country.
Skills Minister Niall Collins added: "Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 are government initiatives – managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science– that provide free and subsidised courses for people who are unemployed, returning to work, or those who would like to upskill or reskill in areas of skills shortages and emerging technologies.
"Funding is allocated to Springboard+ from the National Training Fund (NTF) on an annual basis.
"Now entering its thirteenth year, over 100,000 people have benefitted from the Springboard+ programme to date."
READ NEXT:
- Kinahan gang 'priority fugitive' Liam Byrne arrested by Spanish cops as he made secret trip to meet family in Mallorca
- Roy Keane beats David Beckham in sexiest retired footballers rankings as Italian tops list
- Holly Willoughby makes digs at Phillip Schofield after severing friendship over affair
- Politician calls for free public transport for gardai and soldiers - to tackle anti-social behaviour
- Spain weather: Urgent warning for Irish holidaymakers as 'extensive' storm forecast to wreak havoc
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
