McEntee urges 'clearer protocol' amid school bomb threats

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Minister for Defence Helen McEntee has indicated that a "clearer protocol" should be provided for schools after a series of bomb threats were made in recent days.

Minister for Defence Helen McEntee has indicated that a "clearer protocol" should be provided for schools after a series of bomb threats were made in recent days.

Schools and authorities were praised for their quick response, as Minister McEntee slammed those behind the threats, saying they had caused disruption and instilled fear.

Gardaí said they were aware of a "generic communication" that had been sent to a number of educational establishments, which were later assessed as "not credible".

Schools were advised to remain open but with a fresh round of bomb hoaxes targeting schools, there have been calls for the Government to set out clearer protocols for schools to follow in the event of a bomb threat.

"I'm not sure anybody was expecting this to happen to schools. It's not a normal situation, and thankfully, it's not something that has happened regularly, or indeed, it's not since I can remember," Ms McEntee said.

"Schools, I think, responded extremely well, and I've spoken to some principals, staff members, teachers, and while some schools responded differently, everybody was front and centre of their actions, it was student safety, staff safety, and how do we engage with the gardaí as quickly as possible.

"The gardaí have said very clearly that if a threat like this comes in again, the first thing to do is to engage directly with the gardaí, but also to take decisions within the school as to what is appropriate for that individual school," she added.

"But I think we need to learn lessons from the last 24 hours. I think if there is a clearer protocol that needs to be provided for schools, that we do that.

"If there is a clearer route to engage with the gardaí, that we put that in place and that we listen to the teachers and to the staff," she said.

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