Mayo schoolchildren encouraged to seek alternative to car travel

Mayo schoolchildren encouraged to seek alternative to car travel


AN Taisce have enjoyed huge success in recent years with their Green Flag initiative in schools across the county and now they have set their sights on reducing the amount of vehicles it takes to bring children to school in Mayo.
Over 145 schools in Mayo are registered for An Taisce’s Green Schools Programme and to date 90 have achieved green flag status, and the introduction of the new travel theme is an exciting step forward for An Taisce’s Green Schools programme.
Twenty schools across the county have been invited to participate in the travel programme for 2008 and, speaking at the launch of the initiative in Mayo, which took place in Scoil Raifteirí in Castlebar last week, Eva Gannon, Green Schools Travel Officer, An Taisce, said that Green Schools staff are really looking forward to working on the issue of school travel with Mayo County Council and with the pupils, parents and teachers of Mayo.
“The main aim of An Taisce’s Green Schools Programme is to encourage pupils, teachers and parents to walk, cycle, park-n-stride and car-pool instead of using the private car on the school run. Initiatives planned for the year ahead include walking buses, WOW (Walk on Wednesday) days, COW (Cycle on Wednesdays) days, cycle trains, park-n-stride projects, promotion of car-pooling, surveys and competitions,” said Ms Gannon.
The introduction of the new travel theme is another step forward for An Taisce’s Green Schools programme. The theme was piloted in the greater Dublin area over the last three years to great success, with an average drop in numbers of pupils travelling by car of almost ten per cent in participating schools. As a result of this success, the Minister for Transport, Mr Noel Dempsey, announced financial support of up to €2 million per annum until 2012, allowing the programme to be rolled out nationwide.
Sharon Cameron, Environment Awareness Officer, Mayo County Council, said at the launch that the Green Schools Programme as a whole had been a great success in Mayo.
“With 90 schools now flying the green flag we are leaders in the programme nationally. We are delighted that our schools, which have achieved so much so far in the programme, now have the opportunity to take on the challenge of the travel theme. We commend all our students, teachers and parents for their ongoing commitment and enthusiasm for the Green Schools Programme.”
Mr Gearoid Ó Marcaigh, Green Schools coordinator in Scoil Raifteirí, added that the school was now busy preparing for its fourth Green Flag.
Schools in Mayo are kicking off their Green School year by participating in ‘International Walk to School Month’ during October (www.iwalktoschool.org) and Ms Gannon is encouraging everyone to get involved.
“We are asking students, parents or teachers to please think about leaving the car at home, even if it’s just for a day during ‘International Walk to School Month’, and getting on your bike, your feet, the bus or the train. Every single kilometre not driven in a car reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 145 grammes. Please play your part and remember that every journey matters,” added Ms Gannon.