The issue of smartphones at primary-level is one for parents and not schools, Education Minister Norma Foley has said.
She was speaking as the Government approved plans to roll out resources to support parents who want to develop voluntary codes around smartphone use for primary school children.
The Department of Education has drawn up the guidelines, which will be issued to all primary schools.
Minister Foley told The Hard Shoulder it is more than just guidelines.
"It is more than guidelines, it is actually supports and resources being provided by the Department," she said.
"Obviously we will provide the templates for parents associations and all of that to invite other parents to come onboard.
"We will be providing the information to them, the skillset to say, 'Look here's the information, you have it now, make an informed decision'.
"We know that there is evidence that there are young people, as young as in our primary schools, viewing content that no parent would want them to view.
"So, we're saying there's power in the collective, so if all of the parents within a class or school sign up to this it's less pressure on individual parents."
'Entirely voluntary'
Minister Foley said she believes it is in the best interests of children.
"It's entirely voluntary, so parents can chose to opt in or to opt out of it - but it is in the best interests of children," she said.
"This isn't a ban on phones, this is just a recognition that smartphones are not best-placed in the hands of very, very young children.
"The issue is not in the schools because in the vast majority of our schools they're are not allowed to have these smartphones, but it is an issue for parents."
'Make an informed decision'
Minister Foley said parents will be asked on make a voluntary commitment not to purchase smartphones.
"We've seen this work very successfully in areas like Greystones, they've shown great leadership there," she said.
"We're inviting everybody now to be part of this.
"I'm conscious we're coming up to Christmas; so we're saying make an informed decision: it's not necessary for your child to own a smartphone.
"Another type of phone maybe, but not a smartphone at primary," she added.
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