Four new Educate Together post-primary schools are to be set up next year.
The schools will serve students in the Donaghmede/Howth, Galway City/Oranmore, Laytown/Drogheda and Wicklow.
Up to 3,200 students will be able to accommodated when the schools are fully developed.
The Department of Education says all of the schools are being established to meet an identified demographic need.
