Eight Sligo schools to receive almost €18,000 in sustainable project funding

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton TD has announced the delivery of almost €18,000 in sustainable project funding to eight Sligo schools as part of over €850,000 in funding for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) projects in 390 primary and post-primary schools across the country.

Funding of between €1,000 and €2,500 is being delivered to schools who successfully proposed their 2025/26 sustainability projects for funding under the 2nd National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD to 2030).

Welcoming the funding, Sligo-Drumcliffe Cllr Thomas Walsh said, "This is very welcome funding for wonderful and innovative projects that are wide ranging. I want to take this time to acknowledge the work of the students and their teachers.”

The eight Sligo schools awarded funding are as follows: Ballinode College – Composite Benches (€2,500); Coola Post Primary School – Fast Fashion and Recycling Initiative (€1,500); Mercy College - Water Refill Stations (€2,500); St Marys College - Water Fountain Initiative (€2183.25); Cliffoney NS - Enhance Polytunnel and CPD Courses for Parents (€2000); Rathcormac NS-Polytunnel (€2500); Scoil Bhride Carns – Sensory Paths, CPD, Wildlife Habitats and pollinator friendly plants (€2000) and St Teresa`s NS – Seed to Plate Food Project (€2500).

Some of the wide range of school projects in receipt of ESD funding include the development of school gardens and outdoor classrooms, forest schools, recycling systems, biodigesters and food waste management systems, composting systems, fast fashion projects, recycling initiatives, irrigation and rainwater collection systems, energy education initiatives, student led sustainability projects, teacher CPD and a range of sustainability themed workshops.

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton TD said: “I am so impressed by the range of ESD projects underway in our primary and post primary schools across the country. It is essential that our learners have the opportunity to learn the skills needed to support, promote and take action for sustainable development. This year, schools have incorporated ‘local level action’ into their ESD projects, extending engagement beyond the school walls and out into the wider community, building essential partnerships for sustainability.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.