Over €21,000 in Sustainable Development project funding for Offaly schools
Fine Gael TD for Offaly Deputy John Clendennen has welcomed the announcement that nine schools in Offaly will receive a total of €21,460 in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) funding for the 2025/2026 school year. The funding forms part of a national investment of over €850,000 announced by the Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton.
The funding will support five primary and four post-primary schools in Offaly to deliver sustainability-focused projects, with individual grants ranging from €1,000 to €2,500 depending on project scale.
The successful primary schools and amounts awarded are:
• Arden Boys NS - €2,500 for a polytunnel
• Cean Eitigh NS - €2,500 for a sensory garden
• Clonlisk NS - €2,500 for projects focused on native Irish plants and wildlife
• SN Ros Com Rua - €2,480 for a biodiversity garden
• St Kieran’s NS - €2,500 for a sensory garden, outdoor benches, biodiversity signage and pollinator-friendly planting
The successful post-primary schools and amounts awarded are:
• Gallen Community School - €1,500 for a fast fashion recycling initiative, workshops and CPD training
• Sacred Heart Secondary School - €2,480 for the redevelopment of its school garden
• St Mary’s Secondary School - €2,500 for a biodigester and food waste management system
• Tullamore College - €2,500 to develop a hub for biodiversity and sustainable learning
Projects supported under the ESD to 2030 strategy include initiatives such as school gardens, outdoor classrooms, recycling and composting systems, energy education programmes, rainwater harvesting, food waste management and student-led sustainability actions. A key focus of this funding round is local-level action and community engagement.
Deputy Clendennen said, “This funding is a very positive investment in the future of our young people and our communities in Offaly. By supporting hands-on sustainability projects, we are empowering students to take meaningful local action on climate and environmental issues.
“The €21,460 allocated to Offaly schools will help build environmental awareness, strengthen community partnerships and embed sustainability into everyday school life. I commend the schools involved for their ambition and commitment.”
The Education for Sustainable Development strategy supports the Climate Action Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan, the EU Green Deal and the UN 2030 Agenda.
“Our schools play a vital role in shaping future generations. This funding recognises the leadership already being shown across Offaly and helps ensure sustainability remains central to education in our county,” Deputy Clendennen concluded.