A total of 2,011 drug packages, 2,671 mobile phones, and 624 weapons have been seized in Irish prisons since the beginning of 2024, and an increase in the use of drones by criminals was noted last year.

28 per cent of the children surveyed reported that they could go online whenever they wanted.

The scammers say that they are calling from a garda station and have a recovered phone they believed was stolen the night before

Education Minister Norma Foley made her comments as she liaised with school management about how to implement a ban on mobile phones.

Mr Crone was responding to reports that Minister for Education Norma Foley plans to ask second-level schools to ban the use of mobile phones by students during the school day

A number of items were taken, including phones.