merrion street

56 projects to provide over 15,500 primary and 7,700 second- level places

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn today announced details of the schools that are planned to advance to construction in 2012.

The major projects due to go to construction next year comprise:

• 26 new schools at primary level

• 12 major extensions at primary level

• 9 new schools at second level

• 9 major extensions at second level

Announcing the programme this morning, the Minister said:

We are prioritising investment in school buildings in line with the Government’s Capital Investment Programme.

Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by around 70,000 between now and 2018 – by over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary. Enrolment will continue to rise at post-primary level to the year 2024 at least.

We have to ensure that every child growing up in Ireland will have access to a physical school place.

In all, €430m will be spent on educational infrastructure next year – representing the first phase of a €2 billion five-year plan for major school building projects.

This substantial investment 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.

The Minister also announced a Post Primary School Design Competition to be organised by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) on behalf of the Department. This will provide a real opportunity for innovative design in new second-level schools.

Read the full press release here.