The Irish Software Association and the state training agency FAS are undertaking a joint training initiative to meet skill shortages in the sector. Dublin City University is to provide certification for the courses.

Last year FAS trained over 1,100 people for employment in the electronics, software development and tele-services sectors. These sectors are expected to provide around 25,000 extra jobs by the beginning of the next century.

The director general of FAS, Mr John Lynch, said at the inception of the new initiative yesterday that over 1,000 more people would complete training this year "and we shall increase this further". FAS was also developing a Language Register for employers in the sector.