`I have never seen such commitment." Peter Davitt is talking about the big-name companies in the computer field and in finance who have undertaken to train and employ 3,500 people through the Fastrack to Information Technology scheme over the next three years.

With the country's output of graduates unable to meet the demands of the IT industry, these companies have turned to the training of long-term unemployed people as part of the solution to the shortage.

The scheme originated as an idea at Ballymun Job Centre in Dublin. The centre, managed by Davitt, has a good record, through a project called Tramlines, in providing training and support to get long-term unemployed people into good jobs in the IT industry. The Tramlines project produced "good, well-paid jobs with prospects", says Davitt who has seen some of its graduates progressing to "unbelievable salaries".

"I attended Ballymun Senior Comprehensive," says Tramlines graduate Rebecca Crowley. "I had no third-level education and no qualifications. I never thought that I could become employed in the computer industry. Tramlines came along and changed my life. It gave me hope. I've never been happier."

What the FIT programme aims to do is to achieve successes like this on a bigger scale. Initially it will be confined to Dublin. But if it works it is likely to be implemented nationally. A glance at the list of nine companies supporting it suggests the plan has every chance of succeeding: IBM, Oracle, Hewlett Packard, CSC, Corel, AIB, Symantec, Microsoft and CBT Systems. Davitt, who has recently been appointed chief executive of FIT, says he has never felt so enthusiastic about a project. It will, he says, "bring large numbers of unemployed people into the IT industry, trained in high-level skills".

The programme "represents a unique fusion of energy to solve the problem of long-term unemployment," says Patrick Nolan, chairman of Ballymun Job Centre. That fusion of energy involves the industry, the Government - which is putting £20 million into the scheme to meet training and support costs over three years - and the community-based Local Employment Services. FAS and the Vocational Education Committees will be key providers of training for the scheme.

The working party that resulted in the FIT project was co-chaired by Nolan and Tony O'Dowd, general manager of Corel Corporation. "This unique combination convinces me that this will be a success and address the skills shortage of the industry today," he says.

When the working party reported, it estimated that "some 4,000 people from the long-term unemployed in the Dublin area are capable of entering the IT sector, thus providing a previously untapped stream of recruitment". These are drawn from the approximately 12,000 long-term unemployed people aged 15 to 39 who have a Junior or Leaving Certificate - previous training initiatives in the IT industry suggest that one-third of the people in this category have the potential to work in the industry.

"We have courses scheduled to commence between now and September," says Davitt. "We will bring 300 into training by September and 900 by Christmas."

The curriculum includes both IT skills and personal development. Participants are being recruited by the Local Employment Services in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Blanchardstown, Ballyfermot, north Finglas, Ballymun and the inner city. Those who join will be doing a favour not only for themselves but also for the IT industry.

While third-level IT courses are being expanded, these will not be sufficient to meet the growing demand of the industry for staff, the report says. "There is a critical need to provide new streams of recruitment for the IT industry. If demand continues to be unmet, the number of unfilled positions could grow as high as 7,000 to 8,000 in the next three years. Without correction these figures could pose serious strategic questions for IT companies."

If the FIT programme can fill half these places, it will clearly be of immense value to the IT industry. It will also save money for the taxpayer.

"The initial three-year programme will cost £19.8 million to implement but will generate savings of £29.6 million through reduced unemployment assistance payments and increased income tax and PRSI revenues," it says.

And to those who fear that their background or lack of a track record would be against them, the report points out that "the industry is not pre-occupied with a person's past history, status or achievement but rather their future potential".

The Irish Software Association estimates that wage increases due to labour shortages in the industry have been of the order of 50 per cent in the past three years, and IT workers have become very mobile - one in five changes jobs every year, presumably lured by better pay or conditions, or both.

It's an enticing prospect for the 3,500 people who will leave the dole queues to join the FIT programme.