A Routine Exclusion
This isn't about a single delayed train or a one-off technical glitch. It is a systemic failure of public communication.
This is not anti-social media.
We aren't asking the government to delete their accounts. We are demanding they stop using them exclusively.
Social media should be a supplement to public information, not a gatekeeper for it.
Irish Rail, the NTA, and local authorities have developed a routine of publishing critical real-time updates exclusively on private social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
This is not an occasional glitch; it is an established communication strategy. Whether it is unscheduled rail delays, emergency bus diversions, or essential utility alerts, vital public info is being "walled off" within private ecosystems.
This creates a two-tier information system. It excludes the elderly, the privacy-conscious, and anyone who refuses to be tracked by a private corporation just to access basic public services.
The Technical Manifesto
Source-First Notification (SSOT)
Official state-owned websites and apps must be the Single Source of Truth. Vital info must be published there before or simultaneously with any third-party network.
Platform Neutrality
Essential safety, travel, and health notifications must never require a private account, a login, or acceptance of third-party tracking cookies.
Open Data / Sovereign APIs
Public bodies must publish standardized RSS or JSON feeds. This allows citizens, independent developers, and local media to distribute info safely without corporate gatekeepers.
The Policy Gap
The Government of Ireland Design System explicitly states that the official website must be the "Single Source of Truth."
Despite these guidelines, many taxpayer-funded bodies continue to treat private, account-gated social networks as their primary broadcast wire. This isn't just an accessibility issue; it's a direct failure to follow existing state digital standards.
The Public Information Audit
Irish Rail
Frequently posts "additional services" and unscheduled delay alerts exclusively to X, leaving the official news page blank during critical events.
Dublin Bus
Immediate disruption alerts are funnelled through social media first. Citizens are often forced to check X to find out why their bus hasn't arrived.
Bus Éireann
Regional service disruptions frequently hit social media before appearing on their hard-to-navigate official service update breakdown.
Go-Ahead Ireland
Explicitly categorizes "real-time incidents" as social-media-first, reserving their website for long-term planned changes only.
Luas
Luas maintains a clear, accessible "Travel Updates" page on their official website that is updated in lockstep with their social media. They prove that "Source First" is not just possible—it's professional.
Common Questions
"I use X and it’s convenient. Why change it?"
We aren't asking them to stop using social media. We're asking them to stop using it exclusively. Convenience for some shouldn't come at the cost of excluding others. Everyone deserves the same real-time updates on a public, state-owned platform.
"Does this create extra work for staff?"
Actually, it fixes a broken workflow. Currently, staff often "double-job" by manually posting to social media and then eventually updating the website. A Source First approach is about efficiency and automation: one update to the official CMS syncs to the website, the app, and social media simultaneously. It reduces manual labor while ensuring 100% accuracy.
"Is this just about train delays?"
Trains are the most visible example, but this is a standard for all public infrastructure—from the Gardaí and local councils to the HSE. Publicly funded information is a public good; it belongs on public infrastructure first.
Take Action
The most effective way to drive change is to put this issue directly in front of those with the power to fix it. Use the template below to contact your local TD or the Minister for Transport.
Subject: Urgent: Public Access to State Information
Campaign Momentum
About the Campaign
OpenPublicInfo.ie is a citizen-led initiative started by Munim Kazia, a Senior Software Engineer based in Ireland.
This isn't just a grievance; it's a call for better data architecture in our public services. We believe that digital sovereignty and public accessibility are core requirements for a modern state.