PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 22^ND JUNE 2009

SACRED HEART NS ST. JOHNS DRIVE, SRULEEN CLONDALKIN

RAISES ITS FIRST GREEN FLAG FOR WASTE & LITTER

17^TH JUNE 2009

The pouring rain did not dampen the spirits of Sacred Heart National School, St. Johns Drive, Sruleen, Clondalkin as they raised their first Green Flag for Waste and Litter on Wednesday 17^th June 2009. Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County Councillor Guss OConnell attended the flag raising ceremony and he congratulated the staff, pupils, board of management and parents association at the school.

He said Your actions here are setting an example to other schools, to your families and to the wider community. You are demonstrating that simple actions can bring about big change and help improve and protect our environment.

To achieve the award pupils at the school have been carrying out litter and waste initiatives such as reducing the amount packaging in lunches, reducing the amount of waste going to the landfill from the school which has reduced by 50%, recycling all sorts of waste including items such as mobile phones, batteries and ink cartridges, reducing the amount of paper used in school by 30%, reducing litter around school and carrying out clean ups in the local area.

The school has also developed a school garden and it was officially opened on Wednesday last. The garden is called The Heart of Sruleen the schools Environment Coordinator Kerry Nolan stated that a small space in the school was developed into a garden using kind donations from various local businesses including Clondalkin Credit Union, Clondalkin Builders Providers and Green Park Chemist. Vegetables, herbs and flowers have been planted by all the children ranging from four to twelve years old. The garden is now a main feature and as it has grown and blossomed it has captured the imagination of all in the school.

Recent research by An Taisce on the economic value of the Green-Schools programme to schools in Ireland has revealed that the programmehassaved schools in Ireland aminimum 2 million euro in waste, electricity, water and fuel costs this year.The results reveal a minimum of 12 tonnes of waste diverted from landfills in Ireland every school day by schools undertaking the programme. Because the programme also involves the wider community the overall savings to the wider community could be several times the 2 million euro saved by the schools involved.

The Green Schools Programme is going from strength to strength in South Dublin County said Claire Hinch Assistant Environmental Awareness Officer with South Dublin County Council To date 51 of 100 primary Schools in South Dublin County have been awarded the Green Flag from An Taisce and seven of the 34 Secondary Schools in the County also have been awarded the Green Flag Award.

By the end of January 2009 there were over3,100 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland participating in the programme. This represented over 75% of all schools in Ireland. 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

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