A scheme designed to help rehabilitate former offenders saw an increase of 81 per cent in referrals in 2008 compared to the previous year.
More than half of all participants have been placed into employment, according to a report due to be released today.
The Linkage Programme has successfully assisted 3,419 former offenders to gain education, training and employment since it started in 2000.
From a total of 5425 placements, 52 per cent were placed in Employment, 33 per cent were placed in training and 15 per cent were placed in Education.
The programme saw a 50 per cent increase in the number of placements in 2008.
Funded by the Probation Service under the National Development Plan, the programme is managed by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) and forms part of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy.
The scheme received funding of €1.55 million from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform through the Probation Service in 2008.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/e1807905-8678-47b5-a915-2bc7f91a5bbd.png)