The Minister for Education has announced 43 major school building projects, which he says will go to tender and construction this year.
They include 30 brand new school buildings, as well as a number of large extensions and refurbishment projects in existing schools.
Minister Batt O'Keeffe says more than 19,600 pupils will benefit.
The building projects involve schools in 17 counties, at both primary and second level.
Minister O'Keeffe said the projects would provide permanent primary school places for over 9,800 pupils in 21 new schools and seven extended and refurbished schools.
He said 5,600 post primary students will get new permanent school accommodation in eight new schools.
And a further 4,275 students in seven post-primary schools will benefit from what he said were major extension and refurbishment projects.
'Five of these school building projects are being re-tendered under the new form of contracts for public capital projects to get the best value for money in the construction sector,' he said.
'The remaining 38 projects will go to tender and construction as soon as possible and it's expected that building work will begin on the majority of these projects this year.'
