PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 19^th March 2009

St. Thomas SNS, Fortunestown Road, Jobstown raised its first Green Flag for Waste and Litter on Friday 13^th March 2009. Mayor of South Dublin County Councillor Marie Corr attended the flag raising ceremony and he congratulated the staff, pupils, board of management and parents association at St. Thomas SNS Your actions here at St. Thomass speak louder than words and you have all taken part in helping the environment by recycling and keeping your school and neighbourhoods clean. So keep up the good work and keep the Green Flag flying!

To achieve the Green Flag for Waste and Litter the staff and pupils at St. Thomass SNS have dramatically increased recycling by 300%. Waste recycled includes plastic, paper, cardboard and batteries. Composting is also carried out and a new school garden is being developed.

St. Thomass SNS Green Schools Committee is comprised of pupils, teachers and the schools caretaker and the Green Schools Coordinators Ms. Lisa Rohan and Mr. Nicholas Murphy.

Over 3,100 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland are currently taking part in the programme and 1,465 have been awarded the Green Flag. The Irish Green-Schools programme is one of themost successful within the international network. One of the main factors in the success of the Irish Green-Schools programme is the partnership between the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and Local Authorities i.e.the financial and time contribution of the Local Authorities to the programme.

For further information contact Claire Hinch, Environmental Awareness Section

chinch@sdublincoco.ie