Foley under fire over school grant tweet

NEWLY appointed Education Minister Norma Foley has faced a barrage of criticism from the Opposition after one of her first moves as minister was to issue a Tweet announcing the approval of a grant for a school in Kerry.

On Friday the Tralee based Kerry Fianna Fáil TD tweeted that emergency funding has been approved for Dromclough National School in Listowel “so that they can carry out Universal Access Works”.

Minister Foley’s tweet was sharply criticised by education spokespeople in Opposition parties as well as several well known media commentators.

“I appreciate that she is a TD for Kerry, obviously she has to represent her constituents but I think it is tone deaf to put that up in lights as a major first step when there are so many major challenges facing the departments,” said Cork Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

Labour Party education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said he felt the Tweet was not appropriate.

“I think it was an ill-advised thing for her to do and an ill-advised statement for her to make,” said Mr Ó RIordáin.

While Minister Foley announced the funding she had no part in the decision which was made by Department of Education Officials prior to her appointment as Minister the previous Saturday.

A statement on Minister Foley’s behalf has been since been issued by the Department.

“The project at Drumclough National School is an Emergency Works Scheme project for Universal Access works in this school. All school building programme applications are considered and approved by a technical team within the department. Where a minister or other public representatives enquire about the project, they are informed after a decision is made,” it said.

Education Minister Norma Foley in her office at the Department of Education in Dublin.