Louth Councillor Michelle Hall is calling for clearer national school safety protocols following threatening emails sent to schools across Ireland, including in Louth and Meath, on Wednesday, 11th November.
The emails caused concern among parents, teachers and school management, with some schools evacuating before Gardaí confirmed that the threats were not considered credible.
Cllr Hall, who is a member of the Louth Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP), said the incidents highlighted the need for consistent guidance for schools and sufficient emergency service capacity to deal with a sudden increase in calls.
“Any threat directed at a school is extremely distressing for children, parents, teachers and school management. Even when a threat is subsequently assessed as not credible, the anxiety and disruption caused to a school community are very real.
“What concerns me is that school principals and boards of management must be able to access clear and immediate guidance when these incidents occur.
“We cannot leave individual principals trying to interpret what action they should take in the middle of an unfolding incident, particularly when they are responsible for the safety and welfare of hundreds of children and staff.”
Call for national guidance
Cllr Hall wants the Department of Education and Youth to work with An Garda Síochána and school management representative organisations to ensure schools have clear procedures for responding to bomb threats and similar security incidents.
“I am calling on the Department of Education to work directly with An Garda Síochána and school management representative organisations to establish a clear national protocol covering how schools should respond to bomb threats and similar security incidents.
“That guidance should clearly set out who schools should contact, how threats should be reported, who makes decisions regarding evacuation or remaining on site, how parents should be informed, and what steps should be taken to reassure children and staff.
“It is important that schools receive consistent advice, so that principals are not left feeling they must make difficult decisions without the necessary information or support.”
Following Wednesday’s incidents, Gardaí advised that the emailed threats were not credible and that schools did not need to evacuate.
Schools receiving the emails were instructed to contact 999 and follow Garda advice.
Concerns over emergency service capacity
Cllr Hall also raised concerns about the pressure these incidents can place on emergency services.
Wednesday’s threats generated a large volume of calls to Gardaí, with the Department of Education acknowledging that responding to individual schools could take time.
Hall said school safety should form part of a wider coordinated approach involving education authorities, Gardaí and other relevant agencies.
“Our schools are at the heart of our communities, and parents must have confidence that there are clear procedures in place to protect their children when incidents of this nature arise.
“I want to see the Department of Education provide practical, straightforward guidance that can be followed by every school, alongside appropriate training and support for school leaders.
“I also want assurances that our emergency services have the staffing and capacity to manage these incidents without compromising access for people facing genuine emergencies.
“These are two connected aspects of community safety. We need better preparedness, clearer communication and properly resourced emergency response arrangements.
“I will be raising these concerns through the Louth Local Community Safety Partnership and calling for the relevant agencies to engage on what practical improvements can be delivered.”
The Louth Local Community Safety Partnership brings together representatives from local government, An Garda Síochána, education, community organisations, and other agencies to address community safety issues across the county.
