RIGHT: Pictured at the launch of the Ulster Bank Supergrounds project in the Republic of Ireland are Mike Bamber from Ulster Bank Group with Colm O'Keefe and Jessica Gannon, both aged 8, from St Patrick's National Schools, Ringsend, Dublin.

The Ulster Bank Supergrounds scheme was first launched in Northern Ireland in 2004 and has been extended to the Republic of Ireland this year for the second time.

The initiative aims to create a stimulating educational space which will provide a valuable extra resource for schools, according to Mike Bamber from the Ulster Bank Group.

"School grounds play a critical role in schools, offering a curricular and emotional resource for children. When school grounds are developed and used in the right way, they can positively affect pupil behaviour and attitude, such as reduce bullying, vandalism, stress and accidents," he said. 

"I know that the children are very excited about their playground makeover... Since the programme launched in September 2004, twelve schools have been transformed in Northern Ireland... Now that the scheme has been rolled out in the Republic of Ireland we hope to build on our continued success," he added.

This year's winning schools in the Republic are:

• St Patrick's Boys' and Girls' National School, Ringsend, Dublin;
• Scoil Íosagáin, Farranree, Cork;
• Gaelscoil Osraí, Kilkenny;
• Donabate Girls' National School, Co Dublin;
• Rath Mixed National School, Co Laois;
• Educate Together, Letterkenny.

The Supergrounds programme is managed on behalf of Ulster Bank by Learning through Landscapes, the UK national school grounds charity that brings children into contact with the natural world, provides advice and support on all aspects of school grounds development and use, and runs a number of programmes for school communities throughout England.