Environmental awareness budget down but the good green work is continuing

Westmeath County Council's Environmental Awareness budget is down €5,000 on last year's, bringing it to €40,000 it emerged at a recent Environmental and Water Services SPC meeting.Nevertheless, good work was still being carried out as was clear from a presentation made by Ruth Maxwell in council chambers.The aim of the programme, she said, was to protect the local environment through various public campaigns and education.Under an anti-litter grant provided, Ms Maxwell said the implementation of a community caretaker for Mullingar was completed, while 'outdoor classrooms' were funded in schools such as St Ernan's in Delvin, Milltown, Empor, and St Coleman's in Mullingar. There was also a Waste Not Want Not campaign and an initiative by Mullingar Gateway Chamber to reduce its energy bill.Continuous work with the Green Schools Programme included 70% of primary schools, she said, and 14% of secondary schools, throughout the whole of Westmeath.To read more see this week's Westmeath Examiner