Deputy Pauline Tully said the €9m allocated in Budget 2025 for mobile phone pouches is a 'scandalous waste' of taxpayers' money.
She said this is heightened at a time when schools and our children are crying out for investment in mental health supports and special education, and schools are struggling to keep the lights on and keep buildings warm. Mary Lou McDonald wrote to the Taoiseach last week calling on him to reverse this indefensible spend.
Deputy Tully was speaking as Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald moved a Dáil motion, which will be debated and voted on last night, that calls on the government to reverse the decision to waste public money on mobile phone pouches and instead invest this badly needed funding in mental health services and schools. The Cavan Monaghan TD says schools didn't even want these pouches to be introduced.
