The Government has faced harsh criticism over plans to spend €9 million on phone pouches in schools.
It was one of the expenditure measures announced in the most recent budget, with the Government planning on providing the pouches to every secondary school in the country to make them “phone free”.
However the reported €9 million it would cost to provide the pouches has been blasted by opposition parties.
In the Dail, Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson and Donegal TD Pearse Doherty labelled the cost as “grotesque” and “inexcusable”, comparing it to other percieved excesses such as the controversial €330,000 Leinster House bike shed and €1.4 million security hut.
Deputy Doherty also called on the Government to explain why the vital funds were not directed towards the dozens of children with additional needs currently unable to find a school space.
The Government has also faced criticism from teachers’ unions such as the ASTI and INTO, who have claimed that their priorities do not lie with teachers and students with so much money being spent on what they view to be an unnecessary scheme.
