I understand that the proposal in question relates to Coillte lands and would therefore suggest that the students might direct their proposal to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the first instance. My Department would be happy to discuss with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine what support we might be able to offer in terms of connecting with schools, should that Department / Coillte, be in a position to progress the proposal.
We are aware of a number of initiatives aimed at encouraging schools to plant trees, such as Self Help Africa’s ‘One Million Trees’ campaign, Crann Trees for Ireland Plant for the Planet project, the Tree Council of Ireland’s Tetra Pak Tree Day, tetra-pak-tree-day.
The National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) aims to ensure that by 2030 “all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development”.
Under the first Strategy 2014 – 2020, significant progress was made. We:
Integrated ESD themes and principles across curricula at all levels
Integrated ESD into Initial Teacher Education
Promoted and support programmes of ESD related CPD for Teachers
Integrated ESD into the Assessment Process
Integrated ESD into the Inspection Process
Established an ESD Portal centrally housing ESD related resources for schools
Integrated ESD into the Higher Education System Performance Framework 2018-2020
ESD has been prioritised as a key area for Research calls
During May and June 2021, myself and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (D.FHERIS), Simon Harris T.D., held a joint public consultation to inform the development of a 2nd National Strategy on ESD to 2030.
The consultation set out the Department’s intention to develop the strategy in line with UNESCO’s Framework for ESD for 2030 with five key pillars: Policy Alignment, Transforming Learning Environments, Capacity Building, Youth Empowerment and Community Engagement.
The 2nd strategy will build on the foundations laid under the 1st strategy with the aim of delivering on the UNs Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 4. ESD is widely acknowledged as both a target in itself and a key enabler for the achievement of all 17 SDGs.
As part of the development of the new Strategy, and in line with the 1st pillar “Policy Alignment”, the Department together with D.FHERIS are holding bi-lateral meetings with other Government Departments to explore opportunities for collaboration and alignment in the area of ESD and to develop concrete actions for the accompanying implementation plan. We will also hold bilateral meetings with key stakeholders including those representing the Youth Voice.
The Departments’ aim is to publish the strategy for ESD to 2030 and accompanying implementation plan in Q1 of 2022.
