More than 40 major school building projects have been unveiled by Minister for Education Mary Hanafin.
In all, 32 primary schools and 11 post-primary schools in 15 counties have secured approval for new building projects, extensions or refurbishment.
The department says that detailed briefs on up to 150 further building and modernisation projects are also being progressed within its building unit.
These projects are expected to progress, on a phased basis, into the architectural planning process within the next 12 to 15 months. Work is continuing on identifying a number of school projects suitable for construction under public-private partnerships.
Ms Hanafin said yesterday that the appointment of a design team for each of the 43 approved projects could now proceed.
"All of these projects have been identified as priority projects in areas where demands for school places are increasing, or current facilities are deemed inadequate to cater for existing needs," she said.
The latest school building announcement is nothing more than Government spin, according to Olwyn Enright, the Fine Gael spokesperson on education and Science.
"Announcing that schools are proceeding to architectural planning stage means nothing without a firm commitment from the Government in terms of money and time. However, there is no funding details given and there is no guarantee that these school building projects will actually get the go-ahead for building work at any time soon."
The general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, John Carr, said there is a need to update the building lists and give information to schools that have not moved forward.
"In the past, the publication of detailed lists provided information to schools about the building programme. While there was not good news for every school, at least each school knew where it stood. The INTO wants new lists published that give the whole picture, including the priority rating of each building project," he said.
