Concerns over principals’ phone confiscation role

The director of a body representing the country’s school principals has said that proposed legislation empowering them to confiscate mobile phones from pupils may be unenforceable and “problematic”.

The comments by Clive Byrne, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, coincide with a survey which found two thirds of parents believe the number one barrier to children being more physically active is the time they spend on mobile devices.

Last week, a bill banning mobile devices in schools — giving principals the power to confiscate phones and tablets for up to the duration of a school term — was introduced in the Seanad.