Updated 12.40

Construction work on 70 school building projects will start next year.

It's part of a €2 billion, five year capital investment programme.

A total of 275 school building projects, which include new schools and extensions, are taking place between 2012 and 2016.

The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, says the projects will provide over 27,500 school places, most of which are additional places, as well as 3,800 jobs.

Next year's work will cost €470 million, planned large-scale projects alone will cost over €320 million. They include:

• 22 new primary schools
• 12 extensions at primary level
• 12 new secondary schools
• 20 extensions at second-level
• 3 new special schools and 1 major special school extension

It brings to 168 the number of school projects that will be on site next year.

Details of all the projects can be found at www.education.ie