Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
463. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the funding allocated by her Department or agencies under her remit to An Taisce in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the expected respective allocations to An Taisce for 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24100/21]
View answerThe National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) aims to ensure that
“education contributes to sustainable development by equipping learners with the relevant knowledge (the ‘what’), the key dispositions and skills (the ‘how’) and the values (the ‘why’) that will motivate and empower them throughout their lives to become informed active citizens who take action for a more sustainable future”.
This aim is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 4.7. As stated by UNESCO “Education is both a goal in itself and a means for attaining all the other SDGs. It is not only an integral part of sustainable development, but also a key enabler for it. That is why education represents an essential strategy in the pursuit of the SDGs”.
The ESD strategy 2014 – 2020 made significant progress in integrating sustainable development themes and principles across the curriculum, into the inspection and assessment process and into both Initial Teacher Education and Continuing Professional Development for Teachers.
On 22 April, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and I launched a public consultation on a joint National Strategy for ESD to 2030. It is proposed that the National Strategy will be based on UNESCOs Framework for ESD for 2030 which sets out the following five key priority areas: Advancing Policy, Transforming Learning Environments, Capacity Building for Educators and Trainers, Empowering and Mobilising Youth and Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level and engaging with the wider community. The public consultation will remain open until 30 June.
The Green Schools programme is a significant ESD resource for primary and post primary schools, 97% of whom engage with the programme. The Green Campus programme also delivers on ESD in the HEI sector. Green Schools recently launched the Safe Routes to School programme designed to encourage as many pupils and students as possible in primary and post primary schools to walk and cycle.
These Green Schools programmes help to deliver on the aims of the National ESD Strategy and on the commitment in the Programme for Government to “continue to work towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at ending poverty, reducing inequality and tackling climate change”. To support the work of Green Schools and the contribution it makes to ESD, the Department has provided funding of €10,000 to An Taisce – Environmental Education Unit in 2019 and 2020. Funding of €15,000 will be provided by the Department for Green Schools in 2021.
