Around 3,300 much-needed building jobs could be created this year through the Irish government's €900m schools construction scheme, Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe has suggested.

New primary and secondary schools will be built at a a cost of around €580m, a further €265m will be used to maintain current higher education facilities in the country.

This year will see a 15% increase in the government's school building programme.

Minister O'Keeffe said: "Some economic commentators work to the principle that every 255,000 euro of investment in construction activity is likely to generate a single job.

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"Applying this theory to my capital programme should ensure that around 3,300 construction jobs will be secured this year."

Several schools are expected to be built in the coming months as part of the public-private partnership (PPP) programme.

Mr O'Keeffe has insisted the state will work to secures better value for money in the procurement and construction of schools and other educational facilities.

"Value for money in the delivery of the capital programme is essential to ensure that the maximum benefit accrues to maximum number of schools and institutions, their pupils and students, teachers and academic staff, parents and, not least, taxpayers who ultimately foot the bill for the Government's capital programme," he said.

(PR/JM)