School site announcements on social media
Deputy Catherine Martin complained that a new school-site announcement in Dublin Rathdown was leaked through social media with vague and unofficial information, and asked for better community engagement. The Tánaiste said the matter was for the Education Minister and would be brought to his attention.
This week in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown, the local community learned important information about the arrangements for a new school via social media through a tweet with a picture of a letter giving vague information about the securing of a site for a new school due to open in September with no indication of who had written or signed the letter. This was the first that many concerned residents learned about the plans for the school site. Was the Minister for Education and Skills aware that this information was being given out in this manner? If he was, did he send this letter on to certain elected representatives? How did he determine who should be updated on this?
It is not the first time this has happened in our constituency. In the past schooling arrangement announcements have been distributed first on social media before even the schools have been told, before parents and children have been told and before the local community has been properly informed. There is an urgent need to overhaul how new schools are announced. Currently they are announced with great fanfare without even the sites secured, which causes serious confusion for the local community. I have raised this with the Minister, Deputy McHugh, and previously with the then Minister, Deputy Bruton.
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This drip-feeding of unofficial information on social media is not fair on school communities and is disrespectful to the local community.
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Surely there is a better way of engaging.
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What is the Government's plan to improve its engagement with the local communities on announcements of schools?
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I am glad the Deputy has raised the issue with the Minister, Deputy McHugh, because this is obviously his responsibility. I hope he gave her a detailed response to her question. I am not familiar with the individual project concerned.