Minister for Education announces €30,000 funding for schools in County Carlow

Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, announced the delivery of €30,000 in funding for sustainable development projects in County Carlow schools. The successful projects include outdoor classrooms and gardens, educational seminars for students, a school community working polytunnel and more.

Approximately €550,000 is being provided in funding for the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) projects in schools across the country. Funding amounts of between €1,000 and €5,000 are being paid to schools who successfully proposed their 2023 / 2024 sustainability projects for funding under the second National Strategy – ESD to 2030.

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said: “It is timely to announce this funding during the opening of COP28, the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting, in Dubai today. 

“It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative and innovative projects which schools proposed and congratulations to all of those who are now receiving this vital funding which will help them turn their ideas into reality. Whether pupils will now progress to develop active wildlife walkways, nesting boxes for birds, bike libraries, weather stations, Fair Trade mini companies, or any one of a whole host of other projects, they will be leading the way on promoting sustainable development in their communities.” 

Minister Foley continued, “We are committed to supporting schools to address the transformation needed to make our schools places and spaces for sustainability. We have recently published a sustainability toolkit for schools, so that they can develop their own Sustainability Policy Statements.

“We have also published a new Primary Curriculum Framework, which includes a new area of learning – ‘Social and Environmental Education’. This will help children to develop an understanding of the human and natural environments and empower them to promote a more sustainable future.” 

The ESD to 2030 strategy focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development. The strategy has five priority areas: Aligning Policy, Transforming Learning Environments, Building Capacity of Educators, Empowering and Mobilising Youth and Accelerating Local Level Action.   

Included among the successful proposals for ESD to 2030 are projects focusing on inclusion through creativity in a cluster of schools including two Schools for the Deaf. Other projects are focused on eradicating poverty and improving water and marine sustainability. Many of the projects include workshops for students and Continuous Professional Development for teachers. 

Carlow schools granted ESD funding in November 2023:

Queen of the Universe National School, Carlow, granted €5,000 for Outdoor Classroom and Garden Update and other resources  

Scoil Mhuire Drumphea NS, Carlow, granted €5,000 for Outdoor Garden  

St Brigids NS, Carlow, granted €5,000 for Outdoor Classroom and Functioning Garden 

St Fiacc's National School, Carlow, granted €5,000 for Sensory garden, CPD, and educational seminars for students