Eighty schools have been given the go ahead for new building projects or extensions under the Government's schools modernisation plan.
A total of 72 primary schools and eight post-primary schools have been cleared to proceed with their building plans.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said the first key step for these schools would be the appointment of architectural teams to design and plan the works.
"There are 23 new primary school projects being announced today. It is intended that these schools will be built using innovative methods such as the standardised design model or design and build process, which have been successfully introduced by the Department in recent years," she said.
"Also at primary level there are 39 extensions and/or refurbishment projects where design teams will be appointed. In addition there are two new post primary schools and six post primary extensions and/or refurbishment projects."
Minister Hanafin said that many of these projects were addressing the education infrastructure needs of rapidly developing areas.
"I am particularly pleased that the new 1000 pupil post primary school for the Donabate/Portrane area is going ahead now and I wish to thank Fingal County Council for its cooperation in making a site available for the school," she said.
She said had asked County Dublin VEC to establish the school early in a temporary location ahead of delivery of the permanent school building project.
"The Donabate/Portrane project had originally been considered for delivery under the PPP model but because of the unique agreement regarding the provision of school accommodation and ancillary facilities now in place between Fingal County Council and the Department of Education and Science, it is more appropriate that the project be procured directly rather than as part of a PPP bundle of schools."
Ms Hanafin said over €500m is being spent on the primary and post primary projects throughout the country this year. There are some 1,300 building and modernisation projects ongoing in primary and post-primary schools.
The full list of schools in today's list is available on the Department of Education's website at www.education.ie.