Parents and students will soon get a say on the use of smartphones in schools

Parents and students are to be consulted on how and if smartphones should be used in schools.

Minister Richard Bruton has announced that the department will issue a circular to families through schools to help decide whether phones and other smart devices will be permitted. Schools should ask what types of phone use are acceptable, like recording video, and when during the school day students should be allowed to use their phones, he said. He said that the technology offers young people "fantastic opportunities" but also some risks.

"My department supports schools in responding to these challenges in a number of ways through the provision of advice, training and other supports on the development of policies, including acceptable usage policies," he told The Irish Times.

"Today’s announcement, that schools will consult with parents on the use of smartphones in their schools, will ensure that parents, students and schools have a shared understanding of the smartphone-use policy their school has in place."

Schools currently set their own policies on smartphones - some ban the use of devices while others encourage pupils to bring tablets to school for use in the classroom. This comes after it was revealed last week that over half of Irish teachers in a survey (60 per cent) would like to see smartphones banned in schools.