Cavan County Council has voted unanimously to introduce a restriction on mobile phone usage by primary school children.
The members were responding to a proposal made by Councillor Áine Smith, who is also a schoolteacher, to adopt what she called the "Greystones model". Parents’ associations across all eight primary schools in Greystones, Co Wicklow, have agreed a 'no smartphone voluntary code' until children start secondary school.
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Ms Smith said while technology has its place in schools children who over-use smartphones and other devices can suffer with a range of developmental issues. She said mobile phone use is attributed to childhood depression, anxiety and attention and detachment disorders. Councillor Smith said Cavan County Council voted for her proposal and has written to the Education Minister on the matter.
Speaking of the support for her proposal by Cavan County Council, Áine Smith told Northern Sound "It was unanimous. IK suppose everyone has experience of seeing a child on a phone and don't ant to see them on the phone.
"They'd rather see them interacting with their peers or with them as parents and grandparents so I got unanimous support at the meting and we've written a letter on behalf of the Council to the Department of Education and Norma Foley."
