Darren O’Rourke, Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, is organising a series of public meetings with CyberSafeKids to help parents and teachers address the growing challenges of social media and digital literacy among young people.
Darren O’Rourke, Sinn Féin TD for Meath East and the party’s spokesperson on Education and Youth, is set to host a series of public information meetings throughout Meath aimed at assisting teachers and parents in managing the challenges posed by social media and digital literacy for children.
The initiative responds to growing concerns about the role of social media in young people's lives, including issues such as increased screen time, cyberbullying, exploitation, misinformation, and data privacy. These sessions are designed to provide practical advice, expert insights, and resources to support adults in fostering safe and responsible online habits in young people.
The first event will take place on Monday, 12th May, at 7.30pm in the Dunshaughlin Pastoral Centre. This meeting will be delivered by CyberSafeKids, an established organisation dedicated to promoting online safety, and is targeted at teachers, parents, and guardians of secondary school-aged children.
Speaking to LMFM, Deputy O’Rourke explained the rationale behind the meetings: "Teachers and parents are often playing catch-up when it comes to social media and digital trends. These meetings are about giving them the confidence and understanding to engage with their children on these issues. We’ll cover everything from privacy settings and online safety to critical thinking around misinformation and healthy screen time habits."
He added: "As a parent, constituency TD and my party's spokesperson on Education and Youth, I am happy to host these meetings. I think it is an important and necessary thing to do. The sessions will be delivered by CyberSafeKids, the well-established and trusted advocate for online safety, empowering children, parents, and educators to navigate the internet safely and confidently. The meetings will offer practical advice and evidence-based strategies for addressing common concerns."
Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in an open forum where they can ask questions and share their experiences. Deputy O’Rourke stated his intention to hold further sessions across the Meath East constituency, including meetings aimed specifically at those connected with primary school-aged children.
He highlighted the broader context, saying: "The meetings will be a chance to learn, discuss, and work together to create a safer digital environment for our young people. I’d urge anyone with an interest in this important issue to join us."
Drawing attention to the need for systemic changes, O’Rourke noted: "We also need wholesale reform of regulation of tech companies and our school curriculums. That's something I am also pursuing."
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references a future event dated 12th May (no year specified, but presumably forthcoming given the current date of April 2025). Darren O’Rourke is currently a Sinn Féin TD and education spokesperson, consistent with his present role, indicating the content is timely. No evidence of recycled or outdated information was found. It does not appear to be a press release, but rather a news summary referencing a local radio interview and upcoming events.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to Darren O’Rourke originate from his interview with LMFM. However, no earlier or original transcript was located online to cross-check exact phrasing or interview date beyond this narrative. The quotes seem original to this coverage, implying a reasonable freshness and authenticity but lack of online traceable primary source slightly lowers the score.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative is drawn from LMFM, a known regional broadcaster in Ireland, known for local news. While reputable for local coverage, it is less prominent internationally compared to major outlets, thus the overall reliability is medium-high but not top-tier global.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about hosting meetings to discuss social media challenges for parents and teachers, led by an active TD with relevant portfolio, are highly plausible. The involvement of CyberSafeKids as an established organisation also adds credibility. No extraordinary or unverifiable claims are made. The timing and context align with ongoing societal concerns about digital literacy and online safety for children.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is timely and current, discussing upcoming events involving a known political figure in his active role. Quotes appear original though not independently verifiable online. The source is regionally reputable, and the claims are plausible and consistent with ongoing public discourse on digital safety. There is no indication of recycled news or outdated information.
