50 school building projects have been announced for next year which will provide over 25,000 permanent school places.
It is part of a 5-year building plan launched by Education Minister Ruairí Quinn in March.
The projects scheduled to proceed to building in 2013 include 22 new primary schools, 13 new secondary schools and 15 extension projects.
The Department says that with on-going projects from 2012, a total of 113 major school projects will be on site next year.
Minister Quinn said "Alongside the 25,000 permanent school places that are being built, this significant investment will lead to the creation of some 3,400 direct jobs and 680 indirect jobs".
"This is a welcome boost not only to the construction industry but to the communities where building will take place" he added.
See the location of the school projects here
Parents want more variety of schools
Meanwhile results of the parental patronage survey were published today.
They reveal an overwhelming desire amongst parents for a wider variety of the types of schools being made available to them.
The survey was launched by Minister Quinn in November and sought to consult parents in 5 areas - Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall.
In these 5 areas 37% to 50% of parents surveyed stated that they desired more choices than were currently available.
Of this same group 56% to 78% of parents stated their desire for an Educate Together School.
The Minister said today "I will now ask the main patron in each area, the Catholic Bishop or Archbishop, to consider the re-configuration options open to him which would allow sufficient school accommodation to be made available to facilitate this choice".
Minister Quinn has also announced that the survey will be rolled out to further areas in early January.
"Parents from the other towns identified following the Forum Report on Patronage will be able to express their views on the choice of primary schools in their towns via the survey from the 9th of January for one month" he added.
