Ms Ann O'Dwyer:

In respect of phones, we have a parents’ forum within our own organisation where we have that discussion fairly regularly. I agree with Mr. Curtis that in post-primary schools, it is our responsibility to educate our students on how to manage themselves safely online. The Lockers programme that was provided by the Department and Webwise a number of years ago is an excellent programme that should be provided again. I suggest that teachers should be trained in providing that.

In relation to younger children, I would say again to parents that I would not allow it. I reared three teenagers in the last ten years. I would not have allowed them into a youth club down the road with no supervision. If one provides a smartphone to a child, with no filters and no supervision, that is exactly what one is doing. One is allowing them into a whole world of rooms with no supervision. There is a lot of responsibility in relation to providing phones for children in primary school without that support and understanding of the impact, particularly that of watching and observing pornography online at an early age. We know the impact that can have later on.

In respect of co-educational schools, I can give my personal experience, having worked in both single-sex and co-educational schools. I strongly recommend co-educational education. It is normal for children to grow up and mix. When they are learning the SPHE curriculum, which we talked about earlier, in the context of a mixed school, it is a much healthier place for children to speak about the important issues of managing themselves, consent and sexuality issues. In my experience, it is a healthier environment for children to grow up in.