Trim school praised as it chases fourth Green Flag

A Government Minister has heaped praise on a local national school for giving a lead to other schools throughout the county in pursuing a fourth Green Flag. St Mary's Convent Primary School in Transport Minister Noel Dempsey's home town of Trim this week launched its bid to acquire a fourth Green Flag - awarded by the Green Schools programme - for transport by encouraging parents and pupils to walk to school rather than be driven. St Mary's already has three Green Flags for recycling, water conservation and energy conservation. Launching the school's transport theme Green Flag project on Monday night at the school, Mr Dempsey said many other schools could take a lead from what the pupils and staff at St Mary's were doing in trying to cut down on traffic congestion at school times by walking to and from school and creating greater fitness levels among the school-going children. He said at peak times, the number of cars "jammed into the car park" at St Mary's was "frightening" and that this new Green Flag project would help alleviate some of this congestion, as well as help the environment. Susan Doorley, development officer with Green Schools, outlined how pupils and their parents could make a major difference to both congestion and safety in Trim by taking a number of steps such as walking or cycling to school, which would ultimately conclude with the awarding of a Green Flag for transport to the school. Present at Monday night's launch were representatives of Trim Town Council, the local Gardai, Trim Tidy Towns Committee and other civic representatives, as well as members of the school's Junior Green Flag Committee. Green Schools is an international environmental education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term school action for the environment.