merrion street

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton today launched the Blue Star Programme, a new pilot programme for primary schools which focuses on the EU.

The Programme is to foster better understanding and knowledge of how the European Union affects our lives amongst Irish primary pupils through classroom projects and activities.  The Blue Star Programme will introduce participants - pupils, teachers, parents and the wider community to the EU, what it means and how it works.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said at the launch:

Over the past forty years, our membership of the European Union has helped to transform Irish life and at the same time has allowed Ireland to play an active and constructive role on the wider European stage. The EU remains central to our economic and social development and it is vital that our citizens understand how the European Union works and how it can guarantee our freedoms and prosperity in the future.

Minister Lucinda Creighton noted:

There is an information and communication deficit in Ireland when it comes to Europe, yet European affairs impact on every aspect of our lives. We need to cultivate an interest in and understanding of European history, culture and the EU institutions amongst the Irish people. The first step is getting children involved and I believe that the Blue Star programme, which I have pioneered through the Dept of An Taoiseach, provides and excellent formula for this. I believe that pupils will really enjoy connecting with the cultures and histories of other countries and the whole school community can benefit from discovering their role in Europe.

Primary schools across Ireland are invited to take part in the Pilot Year of this exciting new project, further information available via

or

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Minister Creighton spoke to MerrionStreet.ie earlier this afternoon: