LAST UPDATE | 9 Dec 2025

THE MAJORITY OF the cash set aside for mobile phone ‘storage solutions’ has been drawn down by schools, Cabinet was told today. 

The €9 million spend was among the most contentious measures announced in Budget 2025.

Former Education Minister Norma Foley said it was “a health and wellbeing measure” to improve student learning outcomes, sociability and mental health within schools. 

Writing after the plans were first announced, Foley defended the funding scheme, stating that it would be made available for “phone pouches or other storage solutions”. 

Ministers were told today that over €6.4m of the €9m fund has been drawn down by more than 470 of the 670 plus eligible schools to date. 

Teachers and parents have previously criticised the decision to fund mobile phone storage solutions for schools, saying the money could have been targeted to other areas. 

The detail around the millions of Euros spent on the initiative comes as one minister said today that banning social media for under-16s, like Australia recently has, would only be considered as a last resort.

Age verification

For now, a “robust” age verification system will be introduced to protect children on the internet.

The tool, which is aimed at ensuring that only adults can access pornography and similar content, is set to be piloted through a ‘digital wallet’ and is expected to be up and running early next year.

It comes as part of an increased focus by the government on online safety this week, with government ministers also set to be updated on measures taken by schools, including curriculum supports and digital citizenship initiatives. 

Speaking ahead of Cabinet today, Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan said he would have preferred if the European Union had a uniform approach to online child safety.

“With a single market, it obviously makes issues far more difficult when you’re different European countries are doing things differently.

“That being said, one of the key cornerstones of our presidency, from our department’s point of view next year, will be the protection of the child online.”

He added: “We’ll hold an Australia-type ban on reserve if we have to.”

Australia is the first country in the world to introduce a social media ban for children.

Under the new legislation, platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be required to block or remove users under 16 or face hefty fines.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said he wants Ireland’s existing age restrictions on certain websites and apps to be properly enforced.

“We can’t have a situation where you can’t consent online until a certain age, but there aren’t mechanisms in place to robustly verify that age.”

With reporting by Eimer McAuley and Christina Finn