Digital information screens should be provided in towns across Kildare

New digital information screens should be provided in County Kildare towns to provide a comprehensive communication hub.

That’s according to Cllr Suzanne Doyle who said this should be done by Kildare County Council throughout the county.

READ NEXT Who are the guests on this week's RTÉ Late Late Show with big names announced

She told a KCC meeting that many people find the number of digital information platforms "overwhelming" and the screens would be useful in towns which have a tourism industry, like Kildare town, and in places where “new communities are arriving.

This was supported by Cllr Chris Pender who cautioned that these would been to be properly maintained unlike a structure in Newbridge which has not been upgraded for 20 years.

Cllr Pender also there is  a need to avoid these becoming “glorified advertising boards”as has happened in other places.

Cllr Noel Heavey said there is an information deficit and much good work done by KCC is not well known.

KCC official Marian Higgins said part of the problem is the number of media platforms available.

“There are so many ways of communicating," she said, adding that getting a message through is not straightforward because of the volume of platforms.

She said KCC’s on social media platforms (Kildare community Stories) provide a communication hub for communities around the county. 

“This is an invaluable resource for sharing community news and events. In addition, the library service has digital displays in their buildings with various programme information.”

However the provision and maintenance of a digital information screen in towns throughout the county will require significant investigation including source site location, planning,

procurement, identification of funding, ongoing resource for management of a digital

system, criteria on the type of information to be displayed. 

And given the considerable logistics required it needs to be investigated further by KCC.