Unemployed may get college places

THIRD-LEVEL colleges are likely to be asked to offer spare places to some of the thousands of people joining the dole queues every week.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe is formulating proposals for the cabinet, along with Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, and Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin.

They have been consulting with State enterprise body Forfás and jobs investment group IDA Ireland to identify the employment areas where the most immediate need for qualified workers will be in the coming years.