The Department of Media is considering targeted government funding to support fact-checking and “pre-bunking” initiatives, as part of a broader strategy to tackle the growing threat of misinformation across Irish society.
Outlined in the newly published National Disinformation Strategy, the Government’s plan includes a suite of actions designed to strengthen media literacy, support media pluralism, and enhance the regulatory framework.
A key focus is on building national expertise in identifying and countering misinformation before it spreads — a process referred to as pre-bunking.
The strategy highlights the need for sustained investment in training, professional development, and knowledge-sharing across Ireland’s media sector to ensure the timely delivery of fact-checks and disinformation analysis.
It emphasises that such initiatives must be adequately resourced in a transparent and sustainable manner.
Notably, the strategy recommends exploring the creation of a dedicated funding stream within the Media Fund to support fact-checking and pre-bunking organisations.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan described disinformation as a “global scourge” that poses a serious threat to democratic processes and public trust.
He confirmed that the strategy will be backed by Government funding and stressed the importance of collaboration across public service and commercial broadcasters, as well as social media platforms.
“This is not something we can allow to go unchallenged,” he said.
“We’re engaging with our media partners to address this issue head-on and protect the public from misleading or manipulative content.”
In addition to countering domestic misinformation, the strategy also calls for the development of a coordinated national approach to tackling foreign information manipulation and interference.
The plan further proposes support for local democracy and court reporting schemes — initiatives aimed at enhancing the availability of high-quality, locally relevant public service journalism throughout Ireland.
