The Department of Education has given the go-ahead to more than 120 additional primary and post primary schools to have refurbishment work carried out on their premises this year.
In an unexpected development, the Department yesterday added the names of these schools to its website list of schools waiting for building work to begin.
The news comes amid intense criticism of the Government's school buildings programme and pre-election promises.
The original lists were originally published by the Minister for Education, Noel Dempsey, last January.
At the time he warned that there would be no queue-jumping.
A spokesperson for the minister said the inclusion of these new schools was not queue-jumping. The spokesperson also said the timing was purely coincidental.
None of the additional schools are having major work carried out. Most are listed for refurbishment or extensions.
The Department says the schools have been added in for pressing health and safety or temporary accommodation reasons.
There will no additional money, however, as a contingency fund of just under €11m will bear the bulk of the cost.
