School pressure as pupils soar [Independent.ie]
- Published: 26 May 2011
THE Government will have to build even more new secondary schools than previously thought because of the boom in pupil numbers.
It will put a further strain on state finances but the upside is that it will provide a boost for the construction industry.
As well as building costs, the extra second-level schools -- secondary, community and vocational schools -- will also need at least 1,000 teachers.
Instead of the 13 new schools announced in January, up to 20 will be needed over the next seven years as pupil enrolments are expected to soar by at least 24,000, from 312,000 to over 336,000, the Irish Independent has learned.
Each of the new schools will cater for about 1,000 pupils, while some existing schools will also need extensions to cope with the growing numbers.
The sudden, upward revision of the figure comes as a result of more accurate population information being available to the Department of Education.
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