Some £4 million is being made available to fund a comprehensive survey on the condition of the State's school buildings, Mr McCreevy announced.
He said the survey was in addition to the "unprecedented increase" of 75 per cent in capital funding being made available to school infrastructure, announced in the estimates.
The spending, he said, would herald "the largest school building and renovation programme" in the State's history.
The Minister also announced funding for "targeted initiatives" aimed at improving educational access for disadvantaged students. The initiatives were not specified by Mr McCreevy and nobody from the Department of Education and Science was available to comment last night. The cost of the initiatives will be £3.5 million in the first year, rising to £10 million in a full year.
Some £100,000 is being allocated to a new pilot scheme for early school-leavers coming on to the live register.
Mr McCreevy is providing funding for extra administrative support and caretaking services for schools. Next year, £5 million will be spent in this area, increasing to £15 million in subsequent years.
Aside from general funding for youth services, Mr McCreevy said Scouting Ireland would be getting £400,000 towards its new headquarters. Oige is to receive almost £1 million for the re-fursbishment of its Aughavannagh Hostel in Co Wicklow.
As part of social inclusion measures proposed by Mr McCreevy, £5 million has been provided to assist schools to set up and run after-school childcare services. Mr McCreevy said he would be increasing by £20 the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.