Norma Foley, the Education Minister, has justified her proposal to allocate €9 million for mobile phone storage pouches in high schools, arguing it is a key health and welfare issue for numerous pupils. The decision has been lambasted by Sinn Féin as “grotesque” and a “unjustifiable” misuse of funds lately. The party is poised to raise a Dáil motion seeking the overturning of the decision and a debate and vote will follow in the coming week.
“Nevertheless, secure, safe, and lockable storage solutions such as these pouches will belong to the schools and can be reused in the future. The cost, when broken down further, averages out to roughly €20 for 400,000 students spread across in excess of 720 secondary schools.
Government funding for this programme equates less than 0.01% of the overall €11.8 billion education budget. This education budget has an extra €75 million designated for school operating expenses, 1,600 additional special needs assistants, a further 768 Special Education Teachers and free schoolbooks complimentary for 940,000 students. The programme for free schoolbooks is being finalised for Senior Cycle students. The Government is also expanding free hot meal provision to all primary schools.
For the welfare and health of 400,000 young individuals, this is crucial. Now is a time for taking steps, rather than Sinn Féin’s inconsistent policy standpoints,” Norma Foley further commented.
Interestingly, a parallel programme was rolled out in Northern Ireland earlier in the year, announced by DUP Education Minister, Paul Givan.
Ms Foley remarked on the paradoxical behaviour of Sinn Féin with reference to the cross-border roaming policy, stating that it would be comical if the matter weren’t so grave. This follows Taoiseach Simon Harris’ assertion that no school, headteacher, or pupil will be obligated to use mobile phone pouches, which are estimated to be around £20 per student.
Mr Harris defended the proposal, stating that it originated from multiple schools that already implemented such arrangements. He further criticised the perceived double standard of Sinn Féin’s stand on the issue. The leader of Fine Gael explained that although the Opposition enjoys highlighting the concern, their embarrassment is evident when Sinn Féin is seen practising the same in Northern Ireland, where they are part of the government.
A trial mobile phone pouch initiative was declared by Mr Givan in the North in September, along with updated guidelines for schools restricting the personal usage of mobiles during the academic day. Mr Givan confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph that £250,000 was earmarked to cater to the trial project in 10 schools, scheduled to start in 2025.
According to Stormont regulations, only major subjects or issues relevant to more than one government department are presented for approval at a four-party Executive meeting. Therefore, the other parties, including Sinn Féin, Alliance and the UUP, were not approached to endorse this initiative. So far, Sinn Féin has maintained silence on the matter of this pilot scheme in the North.
However, the North’s Justice Minister, Alliance leader Naomi Long, cast doubts over the cost-effectiveness of the initiative, pointing out that every mobile phone has an off switch which is entirely free of cost.