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Half of Irish schools controversially spraying their grounds with harmful pesticides
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Our survey highlights growing concern over pesticide use in Irish schools and the need to introduce a ban.
Here at Biodiversity in Schools we have spent much time travelling around the country meeting teachers and students. In recent years we anecdotally felt a strong and even growing prevalence in the use of pesticide sprays on school grounds. This year as part of our Pollinator Project in partnership with SIRO we decided to investigate this further.
Through March to May this year we launched an anonymous online survey to capture data on the practice of pesticide use in schools (preschools, primary schools & secondary schools). We were surprised to learn that half of schools surveyed (50.6%) continue to use sprays. You can download our survey summary below.
The findings reflect a wider and increasingly controversial debate around pesticide use in public spaces, particularly in environments used daily by children.
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA) report on pesticide impacts, pesticides are a source of environmental pollution, contaminating soil, water and air while contributing to biodiversity loss. The EEA also highlights potential links between pesticide exposure and a range of health concerns.
As part of the survey we asked contributors who didn’t use sprays to suggest the reasons for their success. The strongest themes involved working to change outdated mindsets, a committed caretaker and exploring a range of alternative methods as detailed in the report below.
Another prevalent theme was the lack of support, and indeed opposition, concerned teachers faced in tackling the use of sprays within the school community.
We are therefore suggesting that to empower these teachers, to support the 49.4% who don’t spray, to protect biodiversity and to safeguard the wellbeing of our children that a top-down approach be taken in banning pesticides on school grounds. There is more than enough evidence at this stage to suggest taking a more cautious approach, instead of the flagrant attitudes currently employed.
A school campus isn't just a normal site, it's where our children play and where we both educate and model behaviour for our future citizens. Our young people and our nature deserve better than this.
