Students from all over Ireland will take part in walking initiatives to show their support for a greener and healthier environment during this year’s National Walk to School Week, 17-21 May.  Green-Schools across the country will encourage pupils, parents and teachers to walk to school by holding events such as Walk to School days, Walk on Wednesday, Feet First Fridays, sponsored walks, and walking fancy dress competitions.

Speaking today, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Ciaran Cuffe TD said: “I am really pleased to hear that more than 450 schools, covering about 144,000 children countrywide are taking part in the Green Schools Travel Programme this year which is supported by my Department.  This represents a 41% increase in the number of schools participating since last year and shows we are making real inroads into changing travel patterns.

In participating schools, the numbers of children who are driven to school has fallen by 22%. Walking and public transport are on the up. Walk to School Week is also about highlighting to schools and the local community the benefits of active, healthy living and alternatives to the car which is in line with the Government strategy to promote greater levels of activity among young children."

Jane Hackett, Green-Schools Travel Manager commented: ‘Green-Schools National Walk to School Week is a great occasion for schools to launch walking initiatives or to further build on efforts to develop a walking culture in their school.  Schools are encouraged to hold fun and informative events to promote walking and its benefits on the journey to school. Based on past success of the event, we are confident we will reach our target of 20,000 students walking to school on National WoW Day on 19 May.’

An Taisce has been working on the national Green-Schools Travel programme, which focuses on promoting sustainable travel on the school run, since September 2008. The Travel theme is funded by the Department of Transport and supported by the National Transportation Authority. The programme is delivered through the successful Green-Schools programme, known internationally as Eco-Schools, in partnership with Local Authorities.

To date, a total of 450 primary and secondary schools countrywide are taking part in the Green-Schools Travel programme. The ultimate aim of the Green-Schools Travel programme is to encourage students, parents and teachers to walk, cycle, Park ‘n’ Stride, use public transport or car pool instead of using the private car on the school run. Recent research carried out by Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton St. (DIT), indicates that the programme is having a big impact, with schools on average reducing car based travel to school by approximately 22% in their first year of the programme.