Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the assessments, particularly independent research, has been carried out or commissioned into mobile phone use by students in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67477/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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My department advised all schools in June of this year that they are required to implement a policy to ban (primary schools) or restrict (post-primary schools) the use of, and access to, personal mobile phones by students for the duration of the school day. This policy is intended to support schools in improving the learning environment in schools by reducing distraction, reducing the risk of cyberbullying and access to inappropriate content during school hours, and increasing traditional social interactions between pupils and students at school break times.

A key feature of the guidance is the requirement for all schools to develop their policy in consultation with the school community — including parents, students, teaching and non-teaching staff. This collaborative approach ensures that each school’s policy reflects local needs while supporting a national goal: reducing students' exposure to harmful online content and enabling them to disengage from their phones during school hours.

My department’s approach to mobile phone restrictions in schools has been informed by ongoing research in the area. This includes the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report “Technology in Education a tool on whose terms”, and the Norwegian Screen Use Committee Report on the impact of the use of mobile phones during the school day on well-being and academic performance. Relevant research will continue to inform Department policy and resources in this area.

My department provides core funding to the Anti-Bullying Centre and provides funding for the development and expansion of the FUSE anti-bullying programme for schools.

In November 2023, my department funding to the Anti-Bullying Centre toward research that would inform the impact of smartphone restrictions on bullying behaviour in the Irish context.

The purpose of the study was to obtain a better understanding of the views of students on these initiatives and to inform policy in this area.

Reform of the curriculum at all levels is underway which will ensure that our young people are equipped with the necessary digital skills and literacy to allow them to participate fully in society.

The new Primary Curriculum Framework includes digital learning as a key competency, and the Framework for Junior Cycle has an explicit focus of the development of digital skills. In addition, the new SPHE specification at Junior and Senior Cycle has specific learning outcomes to support students in navigating the online world.

Implementation of the 50 actions in the Student Participation Implementation Plan will ensure that the views of children and young people are at the forefront of education policy development. The new guidelines for post-primary schools on smartphone policies makes clear that students should be consulted by their schools in these matters and will provide examples of mechanisms of how this can be done.

Webwise, the Irish Internet Safety Centre which is funded by my department, have a youth advisory panel comprising of children and young people who advise Webwise on the content of their online safety training and awareness campaigns, including Safer internet Day.

Coimisúin na Meán is the authority for regulating social media companies and my department liaises with Coimisúin na Meán as well as the Online Safety Commissioner in relation to online safety.