The Minister for Education and Skills has said he is to focus on major school construction projects after new figures revealed Ireland's schools will not cope with the next generation.

The figures from published by the Central Statistics Office, represent the highest number of births registered in any quarter since 1960, with some 100,000 permanent school places required over next five years.

"The demographic challenge facing the education system has not yet been the subject of extensive public discussion," said TD Ruairí Quinn who added: "it is vital that the schooling system is prepared to cope with these increased numbers".

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Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 between now and 2018 - over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary - and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at post-primary level.

The Minister said his priority is now to focus on major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet the demographic demands.

"The primary aim will be to ensure that every child will have access to a school place," the minister said.

The Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework which was also published on Thursday includes an allocation for education capital of just over €2.2bn over the five years of the plan - an average annual allocation of just over €440m.

Minister Quinn said the investment for the next five years will provide over 100,000 permanent school places of which over 80,000 will be additional school places - the remainder will be replacement of temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation.

"I will publish details of the school building programme for 2012 next month. Early in the new year, I will publish a five year plan outlining the projects to be constructed in that time," said the Minister.

(DW)