Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, has welcomed the news that seven schools in Meath West will be built or extended, as part of a major new school building programme announced by the Government. A total of 275 projects will be completed between 2012 and 2016, creating 18,000 jobs nationally.

"This is fantastic news for Meath West. A total of five new schools will be built and a further two will be extended across the constituency as part of this major school building programme. This will cater for the projected increase in student numbers across Meath in the coming years.

"The new schools to be built are; a new 1,000 pupil Post Primary School in Navan, St Stephen's NS in Johnstown, Navan Educate Together NS, St Fintina's Post Primary School in Longwood and St Mary’s Special School in Johnstown. Meanwhile, extensions will be carried out at St Paul’s NS, Abbeylands and at Scoil Náisiunta Uí Gramhna in Athboy.

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"Not only will these projects make a huge difference to the students, teachers and parents involved, they will also create much needed jobs. It’s estimated that a total of 15,000 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs will be created nationwide over the next five years as construction is carried out.

"Prioritising education is a key commitment under the Programme for Government. Despite our constrained economic circumstances, we want to ensure we provide the best possible accommodation for our school going children. A total of €1.5 billion will be invested by the Government between now and the end of 2016 to provide the new and improved school buildings.

"These new schools will help to cater for the anticipated 70,000 increase in pupil numbers, which is expected by 2017. An increase of 45,000 children at primary level and 25,000 at second level is a huge challenge for the Government, but one we are committed to meeting head on.

"As well as the 275 projects announced, an additional 60 schools are already under construction and will be finished by the end of the year. It was also announced in recent weeks that €35 million will be spent on replacing 200 prefabs across the country. This is the first step in putting an end to the wasteful and expensive Fianna Fáil policy of housing pupils in prefabs, when permanent schools should have been built in their place.

"Construction on two of the new schools in Meath West – the 1,000 pupil Post Primary in Navan and St Stephen's NS in Johnstown – is due to start next year. Work on the remaining schools is expected to commence in 2014."