The government has set aside €8.5m to help retrain redundant childcare workers, care workers and social workers so they can find a new job, the social affairs ministry said on Friday.

The government expects 33,500 jobs in childcare, youth social services and welfare services to disappear by 2017 and the money will go towards skills training and helping workers find work in different sectors.

In total, the government has allocated €600m to help finance retraining initiatives in sectors where jobs are being lost.

So far, 35 plans have been submitted to the social affairs ministry. Three have already been approved, affecting the construction, manufacturing and temporary staffing sectors.