Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her rationale for excluding primary schools from the funding scheme for smart phone storage solutions, given that 94% of 8-12-year-olds own a smart decide according to a 2023/2024 Cyber Safe Kids survey. [33083/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I recently announced that the funding scheme for post-primary schools in the free education scheme to procure an appropriate phone storage solution to implement the ban on mobile phone usage by students during the school day, is now open for applications. Schools have discretion as to whether their policy will be enabled through a secure mobile phone storage solution, and where a solution is to be used, can apply for funding to procure the solution that best suits their context and requirements. As outlined in the funding circular (0046/2025), such expenditure must be in line with procurement and financial requirements for public funds. This is what was announced as part of the Budget in October 2025.

The funding scheme is complemented with a circular for post-primary schools with guidance and support to assist school communities in developing their approach to restricting the use of and access to mobile phones during the school day. The circular at primary level also contains that guidance and support, however, in line with research and recommendations including those in the Norwegian Screen Use Committee Report, the approach for the primary age cohort is that there is a ban during the school day.

The funding provision is focused on post-primary schools as, statistically, mobile phone ownership among primary-age children is not as widespread as at post-primary. As the Deputy is aware, the Cybersafe Kids survey data shows that while 94% of 8–12-year-olds have a smart device, of that 94%, 49% of those devices are smartphones, less than half of 94%. The equivalent data for 12–14-year-olds in post-primary schools in the Cybersafe Kids survey is that 99% have a smart device, and of those, 97% are mobile phones. While this does not include the full age group at post-primary, it is safe to assume that that statistic is likely to apply for all post-primary students. In determining the approach, it was noted also that managing the ban on mobile phones in primary schools where children are not moving between rooms and teachers, is more straightforward.

The funding is intended to support positive wellbeing among all pupils and students, helping them to disconnect, learn and engage with their peers without the distractions that can arise from the use of mobile phones.

You may wish to note also my department published guidelines in 2023 for parents called Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free. These guidelines provide practical advice and suggestions to support parents and parent associations wishing to develop voluntary codes regarding smartphone use among primary school children. The aim is to support parents who wish to come together with their school community to explore and agree the best approach to mediate their children’s engagement with the online world through the use of a smartphone device, including adopting a voluntary code for their children to not own a smartphone while they are attending primary school.