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The Government recently launched Pathways to Work, a radical new plan to get unemployed people back to work. The launch took place at the Digital Skills Academy in the Digital Hub, located in Dublin's Liberties area.

Pathways to Work is primarily focused on those who have been out of work for a year or more. The aim is to get 75,000 people who are currently long-term unemployed back into the workforce  and to reduce the average time spent on the live register from 21 months today to less than 12 months by the end of 2015. 

The Digital Skills Academy focuses on "reskilling unemployed participants for the digital technology sector", with classes and workshops delivered by industry professionals. The Academy provides participants with "opportunities to gain nationally and internationally recognised qualifications, with certified skills to progress and prosper in the digital economy".

MerrionStreet.ie spoke to Training & Skills Minister Ciaran Cannon as well as participants in the Digital Skills Academy's Webelevate programme at the launch of Pathways to Work. View the interviews below...