A plan for the development of schools in the N4/M4 area over the next decade was published today.
Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin:
The plan - which includes parts of Kildare, Offaly, Meath and Westmeath - is based on consultations between the Commission on School Accommodation and interested parties from the localites.
The commission received over 100 written submissions and 24 oral presentations during the consultation.
Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin said the plan would be the basis on which capital funding decisions would be made until "2011 and beyond".
She said: "This plan equips the Department with a blueprint for development in an area that will continue to experience rapid change in the coming years."
The Department of Education and Science has said that the N4/M4 area has been chosen as one of five pilot project zones because it covers a number of commuter towns.
A decision on whether to extend the new model for school planning nationwide is due to be taken once the pilot projects are completed.
This is the second such area development plan to be published following the publication of the plan for Mountmellick and Mountrath.
The Commission on School Accommodation is now consulting in Newport/Westport, Co Mayo, and similar studies are due to be carried out in north Dublin/south Louth/east Meath and north Kerry.