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Prosperous School chosen by An Taisce for Green Schools Programme

PROSPEROUS SCHOOL TOP OF THE CLASS AT REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE GREATER DUBLIN AREA

Congratulations to the pupils and staff of Scoil an Linbh Iosa in Prosperous, who are one of only 30 schools chosen by An Taisce to implement the Travel theme as part of the prestigious Green-Schools programme.

Travel is the fourth theme in the programme (following Litter & Waste, Energy & Water) and will initially be piloted in the Greater Dublin Area until August 2007, after which the Travel theme will roll out nationwide. The pilot programme is supported by the Dublin Transportation Office.

Scoil an Linbh Iosa will set their own Travel targets, with the ultimate aim of increasing the number of pupils walking, cycling or using public transport, which will ease congestion by reducing the number of private cars arriving at the school gates. School travel patterns have changed dramatically in recent years in Ireland - in 1991 22% of pupils were driven to school, this had increased to 42% by 2002! That's 329,229 primary & secondary pupils travelling by car every day!

By promoting sustainable transport modes (walking, cycling, car pooling or public transport) as part of their Green-Schools Action Plan, Scoil an Linbh Iosa will also improve pupils' safety, health and fitness. With one in five Irish children over-weight, and one in twenty obese, the journey to school is an ideal way for children to take part in regular physical activity, to interact with their peers, and to develop the road sense children need as pedestrians and cyclists. Alternative modes of transport also improve children's alertness, with 90% of teachers surveyed across England & Wales saying that walking, cycling or using public transport increased pupils' concentration levels in class.

By promoting sustainable travel, Scoil an Linbh Iosa will also lessen their school's overall impact on the environment, by reducing emissions and pollution. While pollution affects us all, children are even more at risk than adults, especially children who are driven to school, as in slow moving traffic, passengers inside a car face pollution levels two to three times higher than pedestrians.

Similar initiatives to reduce the use of the private car on the school run in the UK have shown a reduction of car traffic of 8-15%, as part of the Department for Transport & Department for Education & Skills 'Safe Routes to Schools' programme.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Green-Schools Travel Education Officers -

Arlene Finn Tel. (01) 400 2213; Mobile - 086 831 3739;
Email - gstransport3@antaisce.org
Jane Hackett Tel. (01) 400 2214
Anthony Purcell Tel. (01) 400 2215

An Taisce, Unit 5A Swift's Alley, Francis Street, Dublin 8