Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
328. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of funding drawn down nationally to date on the Mobile Phone Storage Fund; to detail the type of materials purchased to date as part of this fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32030/26]
View answerAs the deputy is aware, In June 2025, a policy was introduced to restrict students’ access to personal mobile phones during the school day in post-primary schools. In addition, to support schools to implement this policy approach, funding of €9 million was allocated in Budget 2025 for the provision of mobile phone storage solutions for students in post-primary schools.
Guidance on the implementation of this policy and details of the funding scheme issued to all recognised Schools, with the guidance issuing via circular 45/2025 – Restricting the use of and access to personal mobile phones by students during the school day - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/circulars/restricting-the-use-of-and-access-to-personal-mobile-phones-by-students-during-the-school-day/
Details of the funding scheme were issued via circular 46/2005 - Funding Scheme for secure mobile phone storage solutions.
This guidance outlined the steps that schools could take to implement the policy. It also stated that implementation of the policy should be supported by schools through their existing consultation mechanisms and that the topics for consideration during the consultation should include whether or not the school should use a specific mechanism to implement the restriction such as cubbies, lockers, pouches, handing in to the school office etc. It also states that the method chosen to determine and agree the practical arrangements to implement the approach is a decision for each school.
To date, funding to the value of €7.1m has issued to some 519 post primary schools at the end of 2025, when the application process closed.
While the funding, which has been drawn down by schools was primarily for the purchase of secure mobile phone storage solutions, It should be noted that the solutions selected is a matter for individual schools, having regard to their own circumstances, enrolment levels, and operational needs.
This fund forms part of a broader suite of measures aimed at supporting student wellbeing, reducing distraction during the school day, and assisting schools in implementing their own mobile phone policies, in line with Departmental guidance.
