Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
283. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education to outline any programmes or initiatives which are being undertaken to encourage and support recycling and composting in secondary schools; the position regarding information packs or circulars which are issued to secondary schools to provide advice on standard recycling procedures or practices, and the enforcement of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52352/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that a second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development – ESD to 2030 – co-sponsored by my Department, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was published in June 2022.
ESD to 2030 aims to ensure that all learners have the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
A first progress report will be published shortly setting out some of the key achievements to date including:
- Publication of a Sustainability Toolkit for schools to support them in implementing the School Sector Climate Action Mandate and in particular in adopting Sustainability Policy Statements.
- Funding of almost €550,000 delivered to schools in 2023 to support ESD projects, including recycling projects, and a further €270,000 delivered to organisations to support ESD related programmes and projects in schools
- Publication of a quarterly ESD Newsletter – issued to all schools and to over 750 subscribers providing information, advice and examples of good practice for sustainable development in schools including information from time to time on recycling initiatives.
- ESD to 2030 has been published by UNESCO as Ireland’s Country Initiative for implementation of Education for Sustainable Development
- The Department hosted an EU Working Group for Schools on Learning for Sustainability in Kinsale Community School in May 2023 focused on collaboration and partnership for ESD.
- The co-sponsoring Departments will host an ESD Forum for key stakeholders on 1st December in TU Dublin, Grangegorman Campus.
- The appointment of the Irish Second Level Students Union (ISSU) to the Board of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the nomination of a Youth Representative to the EU ECE Youth Platform for ESD
- The mapping of ESD related Continuing Professional Development for teachers and the inclusion of sustainability as a criteria for summer courses for teachers and in the Refund of Fees scheme for Teachers.
The Sustainability Toolkit, published in September 2023, comprises a self-assessment audit for schools, Sustainability Guidelines including an A – Z of all things ESD and a Sustainability Policy Statement template.
There are a wide range of ESD related programmes available to schools including for example: the Green Schools Programme which engages with more than 90% of schools. The Scoilnet ESD portal has links for schools to relevant programmes and resources, as does the Sustainability Guidelines document.
Further information including the Sustainability Toolkit, ESD Newsletter and ESD Funding grantees and their projects is available on the ESD to 2030 webpage here: gov.ie - National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland (www.gov.ie) The progress report will be available in the coming days.
