Mahon gets another Green Flag - Statement by Minister Micheál Martin, TD

Gaelscoil Mhachan has been awarded a second Green Flag because of work undertaken by students to save Energy, according to Fianna Fáil TD and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin.

The Minister joined students, parents and staff to help raise the flag and join the celebrations.

"I always look forward to my visits to Gaelscoil Mhachan and to acknowledge the important role it plays in the local community. The students deserve to be congratulated for winning the honour to fly a second Green Flag."

"The Green Flag Scheme has been an enormous success with the Gaelscoil joining over 3,200 other schools across the country which have had their conservation efforts recognised. The scheme saves our schools an estimated €3 million a year, but it is not about saving money it is about protecting the environment for generations to come."

"The impact of the scheme is impressive with students like those in Mahon ensuring that 12 million tonnes of waste a day is diverted away from landfills and recycled. In addition 5 million units of electricity are saved, 21 million litres of water and over 600,000 litres of fuel."

"Of course the work goes on beyond the school yard, I know the students in Mahon and those across Cork in Green Flag Schools are ensuring that changes are made in their own homes to help the environment."

"My visit to the Gaelscoil comes at a time of great celebration not just in terms of the Green Flag, but students have also scored a double with their hurlers and footballers scoring a double in Sgiath na Scoil – a fantastic achievement which shows the strong GAA tradition in our community is as strong as ever", concluded Minister Martin.