Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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323. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department engaged with schools to ensure that their Acceptable Use Policy for the use of smartphones is set up effectively and implemented. [31211/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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All schools are advised to have an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) in place that sets out rights, privileges, responsibilities and sanctions associated with the use of the internet for school purposes including the use of smart phones and personal devices. The policy is drawn up by school leaders, teachers and management and generally in consultation with parents.

Circular 0038/2018 - www.gov.ie/en/circular/c30b88eaa1024cc88cd9e3af2241be92/ - which issued to schools in 2018, requires all schools to consult with teachers, students and parents in developing policy for the use of smart phones and personal devices in school. Webwise (part of the Professional Development Service for Teachers) promotes the autonomous, effective and safe use of the internet by young people through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting school leaders, teachers, parents and children themselves with consistent and relevant messages. It develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate digital citizenship and online safety into teaching and learning in their schools (mostly through delivery of the SPHE curriculum). The webwise.ie resource includespractical information and advice on the safe, ethical and responsible use of the internet. Webwise also provides an AUP template that can be customised for all schools to use, together with examples of such policies from other schools

Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools, includingon the use of smart phones and other such devices in schools, are taken at local level by the Board of Management of a school, who under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 have responsibility for the direct governance of a school. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community on such decisions.