Construction is to begin on 37 new schools around the country next year and 33 other schools will have extension projects started, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn announced this morning.
The 70 building projects scheduled include 22 new schools and 12 extensions at primary level, 12 new schools and 20 extensions at second-level, along with three new special schools and one special school extension.
Cork and Dublin are to benefit from 12 building projects each, 10 are planned for Kildare and 10 for Meath. The balance of the projects are in Westmeath (two) and Wexford (two), with one project each in Counties Wicklow, Tipperary, Offaly, Donegal, Clare, Cavan and Carlow.
The projects are part of a €2 billion building programme announced by the Minister in 2012 which detailed 275 projects to be developed up to 2016. Some €470 million is earmarked for spending next year.
Once completed, the 70 projects will provide more than 27,500 permanent school places. More than 21,000 of these will be additional school places and the remainder will replace temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation.
The builds are in response to increases in the number of schoolgoing children in the coming years.
Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by over 70,000 between now and 2017, with over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary, and it is expected to continue to grow up to at least 2024 at second level.
Mr Quinn said he was delighted to confirm the projects.
“Not only will quality permanent school places be built for 27,500 pupils across the country, but this significant investment will support 3,200 direct jobs and 640 indirect jobs in 2014,” he said.
Despite economic difficulties, there was a pressing need to provide new schools and major extensions to continue to meet the accommodation requirements of the growing schoolgoing population.
“My primary aim is to ensure that every child growing up in Ireland can access a place in a classroom when they go to school,” he said.
A list of the projects is available on the Department of Education website : education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2013-Press-Releases/PR13-11-29.html
