PRESS RELEASE

Water Wise Divine Word National School raises its third Green Flag!

24th SEPTEMBER 2009

Pupils and staff at Divine Word National School, Marley Grange, Rathfarnham raised their third Green Flag for Water on Wednesday 23^rd September 2009. To achieve the green flag award for water they implemented a water awareness campaign reminding pupils to turn off taps and they set a target to reduce water used at the school by 15%. This was achieved by implementing lots of simple water saving practices such as installing Hippo water saving devices in the toilet cisterns to save up to 3 litres of water per flush, which were provided by South Dublin County Council. They also placed basins in sinks which saved water especially during and after art and science classes. They monitored their water metre closely and discovered that they reduced the water consumption by 23% between January and February 2009.

The schools dedicated Green Schools Committee is made up of two teachers, the caretaker, a parent and sixteen children and the programme is coordinated by teacher Niamh McGrane. Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County, Councillor Paddy Cosgrave attended the flag raising ceremony and he congratulated the staff, pupils, board of management and parents association at Divine Word National School for their hard work and dedication in protecting and improving their environment.

As well as conserving water the school is continuing to maintain the energy, litter and waste themes at the school by conserving energy, keeping their school grounds litter free and recycling and reducing waste. The school started the programme in October 2003, they received their first green flag for litter and waste in May 2005 and their second flag for energy in 2007. The next theme is travel and the school is already promoting initiatives such as WOW day ? ?Walk on Wednesday? when pupils are encouraged to walk to school. There are many benefits associated with leaving the car at home and walking to school including - less congestion at the school gates making it a safer place for pupils, the amount of CO2 produced by cars is reduced which is helping to reduce the effects ofclimate changeand air pollution, pupils are getting physical exercise and are more awake after their walk to school and find it easier to concentrate during classes.

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