70 major school projects across Ireland are scheduled for construction next year.

The Minister for Eduction and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan, TD, launched a €2.2 billion five-year capital investment programme in March 2012.

The announcement today 16 further school projects that will replace inadequate educational infrastructure and provide much needed additional capacity to meet the demographic challenge.

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Some €450 million will be spent on primary and post-primary infrastructure next year, with a projected expenditure on large scale projects of over €280 million.

The 70 major projects scheduled to proceed to construction in 2015 are:

• 44 new schools at primary level

• 11 extensions at primary level

• 5 new schools at second-level

• 8 extensions at second-level

• 2 new special schools

The Minister said: "I am delighted to confirm today the major school projects which will be built next year.

"Alongside the 27,800 permanent school places that are being provided, this significant investment will support approximately 3,000 direct jobs and more than 500 indirect jobs in 2015."

(CD)