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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Wexford County Council agrees to meet public to discuss controversial safe routes to school schemes
In addition, the works will lead to the widening of footpaths, narrowing of roads, and tightening of junctions in the two villages. However, those living in The Ballagh and Kiltealy have voiced their discontent regarding the schemes with many accusing the organisation behind The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) initiative (An Taisce) of not engaging with the public prior to finalising its plans. In the Ballagh, a public meeting saw 64 per cent of those in attendance reject the proposed scheme in their village, while in Kiltealy there have been 92 submissions made by members of the public raising concerns about the layout of the scheme and how it will affect residents. With the council under increasing pressure to liaise with the public, director or roads Eamonn Hore has announced that two information evenings will be arranged in the villages between August 5-15. In a letter issued to all relevant stakeholders, Mr Hore said that 'following these meetings a decision will be made to proceed with the Safe Routes to School plans or not to proceed with the plans. Wexford County Council would like to see all representatives of the village who have an interest in Safe Routes to Schools, including parents, residents and business owners attend at these meetings. We all aim to keep the children safe.' Mr Hore also drew attention to the fact that the delivery plan and audits for the schemes were presented to each school's board of management on February 19 (Ballaghkeene) and March 4 (Kiltealy) and that the latter also included a walkability audit carried out in the village with students and the Green Schools Travel Officer. The decision to meet with the public comes after local councillors chose to go 'in committee' to discuss the schemes at two district meetings last week. On Tuesday morning last, at the July meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD), cathaoirleach Councillor Barbara Anne Murphy proposed that the media be asked to leave so that councillors could discuss the Kiltealy safe routes scheme privately. Cllr Jackser Owens objected to this proposal and the matter was put to a vote with Cllrs Aidan Browne, Pat Kehoe, and Trish Byrne voting to go in committee, and Cllr Owens, and John O'Rourke voting to hold the discussion with members of the media present. As a result the subsequent discussion was held privately. Later that day, at the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD) councillors held a private meeting with members of the community from The Ballagh prior to their public meeting. The media was not invited to attend the private meeting. However, at the county council meeting a day prior, some discussion on the schemes took place under the full glare of the assembled press. ADVERTISEMENT Councillor Paddy Kavanagh was the first to raise the topic, contending that neither he, nor the people he represents, had been consulted regarding the Ballaghkeene scheme. 'I have no objection to the SRTS, it's a fabulous initiative, it's putting in ramps and safety features into villages where it's long overdue,' he said. 'This is something which would have constantly been raised about The Ballagh in the past. But if An Taisce is coming to a village to alter that village permanently, it should consult with those living locally. 'Its engineers met with the school, the principal, the parish priest, the parents association, and the board of management; they also consulted with some of the businesses which were directly affected, and those people were of the opinion that these engineers were going to come back to them. But they never came back. "On the day we voted on this at our last district meeting in Gorey, there wasn't even a map for the elected representatives to consult. It would have been so much easier for those engineers if they'd had a public meeting with the people of the parish who are going to be affected by these works for years and years to come. 'I am not for or against this, but I would like to see some safety measures going in for the schoolchildren and to slow the traffic going through the village. But the local people have to have their say.' Cllr Barbara Anne Murphy meanwhile, believed a public information event was the only way to counteract a lot of what she described as 'misinformation and disinformation' which had been circulated in Kiltealy. 'People need to know what's actually proposed and what the options are and the difference it would make to the village,' she said. 'There's an organised 'no' campaign in Kiltealy which is difficult to overcome. People feel intimidated by it.' While events later in the week would suggest Mr Hore agreed that there was a need for a public information event, he remained of the opinion that the relevant bodies had received due warning of the proposed plans. 'On April 9 an email was sent to the councillors with all the relevant documentation, including every single plan, the drawings, all the proposed works, and the locations of the pedestrian crossings,' he said. 'On June 16 there was a meeting with the post office, the local shop, and the landowners, and on June 17 there was a report made to the GKMD with the active travel team in attendance.' Insisting he had not received any detailed maps in April, Cllr Kavanagh felt that an effort had been to made to slip the scheme by unnoticed. 'Any maps I have seen since (at the local meetings) were all on A4 sheets, something major like this should be put on the wall in a hall, and be big enough for people to see it properly,' he said. 'It seems like An Taisce was trying to keep the plans closely under wraps and have it on view for a minute amount of time. That's a sad indictment of the way the councillors have been used.'
Arab Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Arab Times
Kuwait launches 'Green Schools' guide to promote sustainability in schools
KUWAIT CITY, July 14: The Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) unveiled the comprehensive 'Green Schools' guide on Sunday, aiming to assist schools in adopting best environmental practices and enhancing awareness to support sustainable development. The announcement came at the conclusion of KEPS's 14th annual Green Schools educational awareness program. KEPS Chairperson Dr. Wijdan Al-Oqab highlighted that the guide offers a detailed framework for waste management, energy and water conservation, and the promotion of green spaces within school environments. Dr. Al-Oqab explained that the guide provides both technical and educational guidelines to establish school environmental clubs, encouraging active participation from students and teachers in sustainability initiatives. It also outlines mechanisms to measure environmental performance through clear criteria and periodic assessments. The annual program primarily targeted teachers from public and private schools, empowering them to spread environmental and health awareness within their institutions. Throughout the school year, workshops and lectures were conducted to foster values of environmental citizenship and public health among students. Stressing the importance of science and environmental consciousness in achieving sustainable development goals, Dr. Al-Oqab affirmed that the guide equips schools with practical tools to launch initiatives that promote a healthy, sustainable educational environment grounded in environmental values and scientific awareness. Jenan Bahzad, Secretary-General of KEPS and Director of Programs and Activities, noted that approximately 2,000 teachers and students from schools nationwide participated in this year's program. Topics included environmental analysis, sustainable resource management, and the implementation of Kuwait's Environmental Protection Law. Bahzad added that the program maintained continuous engagement through field visits and online workshops to ensure broad access and direct interaction with educators. She outlined the program's strategic objectives, which aim to strengthen schools as micro-communities capable of transmitting scientific and environmental knowledge to both students and the wider local community. The initiative also seeks to embed a culture of sustainability within schools as a foundation for lasting environmental stewardship. Looking ahead, Bahzad expressed hope that the Green Schools guide would serve as a catalyst for expanding KEPS's collaboration with the Ministry of Education and academic institutions. Plans include practical implementation in schools supported by training resources and interactive content. She praised this year's success in turning the partnership between government and civil society into measurable impact within Kuwaiti schools. The launch of the guide marks a significant step toward transforming environmental knowledge into daily practices and sustainable institutional education.
RTÉ News
25-06-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Ecolution: The joy of stepping out into nature on a mini school tour
On this episode of Ecolution, RTÉ Kids' climate podcast for young people, we tag along on two mini school tours that bring kids into the great outdoors. Fall in love with nature, as we visit a park with Rang a hAon from Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna with Caitriona Kenny and GAP Ireland. Plus, we join teachers in Herbert Park with Globe Ireland, finding new ways to talk about the environment. Subscribe to the Ecolution Podcast on RTÉ, Apple or Spotify - listen to the latest episode up top now! There are so many teachers who want to get outside with their students, but sometimes, due to where they are or lack of access to an obvious wild space, they don't know how best to start. The great thing is you can get help on your first step outside and into nature. So this week we're continuing our "mini-series within a series" on nature connection in schools. We head to Ballymun to meet Rang a hAon from Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna, who, over a number of weeks in their local park, learned how to be stewards for nature. Caring for the biodiversity already there, reflecting on what was missing and making the space a better place for those wild creatures that make it special. All facilitated by Caitriona Kenny, then Education Officer for Global Action Plan Ireland. Because it's never too young to care about nature. As Caitriona says: "At only 7 years old, they were able to make the connection between a non-diverse ecosystem and what they're missing out on then" Our panel talk about how important it is to have a strong role model in their school to lead the Green Schools initiative and spark environmentalism. And we joined teachers in Herbert Park with Globe Ireland. Aileen Bright and Sabrina Moore lead an in-service for teachers, all keen to find new ways to talk about climate and biodiversity in the classroom. And how best to get their classes out in nature regardless of where they're based.
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wicklow student's evening dress made from old jeans wins national award
Host of other Wicklow students and schools also rewarded for sustainability efforts and projects Wicklow People Today at 10:00 When you're in a charity shop and see a nice pair of second-hand jeans, they don't immediately scream 'evening dress'. But for one talented Wicklow student that level of imagination has led to a national award. Loreto Bray Secondary School, along with other Wicklow secondary schools, participated in 'ReLove Fashion', which is a sustainable fashion competition open to young people of secondary school age in Ireland. This year, Edena Foot, a third-year student, won the national award for 'best evening dress'. With a growing focus on sustainable, slow fashion, Edena created a stunning evening dress from old denim jeans found in a local charity shop. The dress features hand embroidery and was inspired by aquatic life and the pollution caused by fast fashion. She received her award as primary and secondary schools accepted their well-deserved Green Flags at The Helix in Dublin, in recognition of the excellent work undertaken by students as part of the Green Schools program delivered by An Taisce. Along the same theme as Edena's dress, the 'Rubbish Film Festival' is a creative transition year program that provides a platform for students to explore and research sustainable development goal number 12, 'responsible consumption'. The short, one-minute films created by student teams were full of well-researched topics, focusing on themes such as fast fashion, habitat destruction, water conservation, and even AI. Coláiste Craobh Abhann took the county's best prize back to Kilcoole, while Coláiste Raithin won county first prize for the best impact film, which was presented in Gaeilge. Additionally, St David's in Greystones was awarded second place for the best film award. Another winner was Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir in Arklow, awarded a regional prize for their efforts focused on the water theme. Additionally, Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara in Brittas Bay received a regional award for their outstanding work on the 'global citizenship marine environment' theme and also secured a national award under the Marine Institute's explorer's education programme. Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara is one of only 32 European schools selected for the recently launched EU Blue Lights program.
Irish Independent
07-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Inspiring scenes as award-winning Wicklow national school garden welcomes community
Under the guidance of Wendy Nairn, the organic garden has flourished this season, producing a bounty of fresh vegetables and herbs that the children have enjoyed nurturing. The garden open day allows the wider community to visit the garden and witness for themselves the amount of hard work and effort the pupils put in to maintain it. Pupils and their parents provided plenty of baked goods on the day, and there were also opportunities to purchase some of the plants and produce grown by the pupils. The open day also acted as a celebration of Brittas Bay National School as winners of the Explorers Ocean Champion Award. They are also only the second school in the country to be honoured as an EU Blue Life School and were the regional winners of the Green Schools programme. Principal Una Gallinagh said: 'We had a wonderful attendance for our open day and the place was packed. It was an opportunity as well for the pupils to showcase all their hard work. It's a totally organic garden and Wendy Nairn provides the pupils with great guidance. Parents also help out and we have won numerus awards for the garden, including one from Wicklow County Council. 'We also used the occasion to celebrate the school's recognition as national winners of the Explorers Ocean Champion Award. Joe Silk from the Marine Institute was in attendance as well to celebrate with us. There was a huge amount of work involved, with pupils going down to the beach and investigating phytoplankton. They organised regular clean-ups of the beach, and held different competitions. They also analysed some of the litter they found. 'We have one child's work currently on display in Cork City Hall, and that's only the tip of all the work the pupils put in. We were also awarded status as an EU Blue Life School, and are only the second one in the country.' The blue school network involves schools, which through project-based learning, engages students with marine- and maritime-related topics to create awareness and a feeling of responsibility for our ocean. Tánaiste Simon Harris sent the school a video message, congratulating the school community on their recent achievements. Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore, Wicklow County Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Paul O'Brien, Cllr Warren O'Toole and Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne were all in attendance. Speaking about the Explorers Ocean Champion Award, Ms Whitmore said: 'The children's project was truly inspiring. They explored everything from phytoplankton to photosynthesis, and even created a giant cyanotype artwork to bring their learning to life. Needless to say, I was very impressed. 'I was particularly struck by the whole-school approach. Every child, every teacher, and even parents and the wider community were involved. That kind of collaboration is powerful and makes a huge difference. The beach cleans, the family competitions, the scientific investigations, this wasn't just a school project, it was a movement. ADVERTISEMENT 'I want to commend principal Una Gallinagh, teachers Imelda Burke and Carmel Skelly, and the brilliant outreach work of Mona McCrea from the Marine Institute's Explorers Programme. As we approach World Ocean Day this weekend, this award is a timely reminder of the importance of marine education for our youth. We need to support more schools to do this kind of work, with proper funding and resources. 'Brittas Bay NS has set a national example of what it means to be Ocean Champions. It was really special to be there to celebrate with the students as they received this award.'
