Mobile phones will be banned in primary schools from today.

The Department of Education says primary schools now need to have policies in place banning mobile phones for pupils.

Secondary schools will need to have policies in place that will restrict students' phone-use during the school day, which will be developed in consultation with students, parents and staff.

The Department of Education says the guidance is designed to improve children's wellbeing and aims to reduce cyberbullying.

It's also hoped the updated rules will make it less likely for children to be exposed to inappropriate content, and also limit distractions and encourage children to be more social.

EF94BE Two female students wearing blue school uniforms sitting on steps in school corridor and looking at mobile phone

Education Minister, Helen McEntee, says different rules and guidance will apply to primary and secondary schools.

"It's about making sure in our primary schools that phones are banned.

"In our secondary schools it's is about restricting the and acknowledging that children are older,

"We may have 17, 18, even 19-year-olds in secondary school.

"We'll and asking the schools to engage with parents, with students, with the boards of management in implementing all of these restrictions.

The new policies follows controversy over €9 million of Government spending on phone pouches in secondary schools.

However, Minister McEntee, is defending the spending.

"I'm not saying that €9 million is not a lot of money. It is, but it's part of a budget of €12 billion that I have for the whole Department.

"This is money specifically to try and support kids in school to make sure that when they're in school, they're learning, and that's what education is about. That's what our schools are about."