More than 25,200 people have taken up the Job Bridge scheme and 6,300 are currently on it, according to The Social Protection Minister Joan Burton.
The minister is defending the programme after the Union of Students in Ireland called for it to be scrapped.
Joan Burton says that Job Bridge is one of a number of schemes to help young people upskill.
Minister Burton added that they are developing a programme to help young people who are long-term unemployed.