"The limited training and educational opportunities that were appropriate when there were less than 200,000 on the live register are simply not adequate to deal with the massive numbers now signing on," he states.

A Dail motion from Labour, outlines a number of suggestions as to how this can be done among these are proposals to reform the back to work education and enterprise allowances to ensure that Jobseekers can avail of these supports within three or four months of losing their job, rather than having to languish on dole queues for months on end.

"Labour also believes that we need an ‘Earn and Learn, scheme so that people can acquire new skills and better qualifications on days they are not working. Such schemes have been very successful in several other European countries. We should also be looking at creative ways of promoting career breaks, and flexible work options particularly in the private sector,"

"Community Employment schemes provide a valuable training opportunity for people who are out of work, while also providing for the delivery of facilities and services at a local level. In the current environment we should be looking at increasing the number of Community Employment places and at reforming the eligibility rules to allow more people qualify," said Deputy Sherlock.

He added: "As jobless numbers spiral, and as more and more people end up on the dole queues, this crisis needs to be tackled, and tackled as a matter of the greatest urgency.