Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said yesterday that 22 post-primary school building projects are to proceed to tender and construction in the next 15 months.
The list includes five new schools in counties Donegal, Dublin, Sligo and Waterford, while other schools will undergo major extension or refurbishment works. Ms Hanafin said over 17,000 pupils would benefit from the new facilities.
Among the projects to receive clearance is a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school in Laytown, Co Meath.
"These school-building projects are already in design and are well positioned to proceed to tender and construction over the next 12 to 15 months," Ms Hanafin said. "Over 17,000 students will benefit from new and better facilities as these high quality building projects get under way in their schools."
She added that the new National Development Plan would enable the Department of Education and Science to continue to take "a proactive approach" on the provision of school facilities, particularly in rapidly developing areas.
"The department is proactively engaged with local authorities on a continual basis in relation to specific areas.
"This is being done through improved contacts and communication protocols to ensure that the department is better alerted about new and expanding residential areas and afforded an opportunity to ensure appropriate zoning provision for educational purposes," the Minister said.
Fine Gael TD for Meath East Shane McEntee welcomed the announcement that the area was to have a new second-level school.
"I welcome the announcement of a second-level school to cater for the needs of Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington, Donacarney and Julianstown. This school is long overdue and I hope that building work can start shortly," he said.
"School places and community facilities in east Meath are not keeping pace with the massive population growth in the area. This reflects a serious lack of forward planning on the part of the Fianna Fáil/PD Government.
"In future, the educational needs of an area like Laytown must be on the drawing board when plans are being submitted to Meath County Council for large housing developments."