Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has considered the introduction of mobile phone jamming systems into schools in order to block mobile phone access in the classroom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14986/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has no proposals to introduce mobile phone jamming systems into schools.

In accordance with the Education Act 1998, individual school authorities are responsible for the day-to-day running of schools. It is a matter for each school authority to establish rules on what is and is not acceptable for students to do while on the school premises, provided that those rules are lawful, fair and reasonable.

The National Centre for Technology in Education, in its advice sheet for schools on mobile phones, recommends that the management of mobile phone use by students should be incorporated into the school's ICT plan and acceptable use policy.