Clarke blasts €9m phone pouch spend as Minister's 'vanity project'

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education Sorca Clarke has described the government’s inexplicable decision to allocate €9m on smart phone pouches as nothing more than a vanity project for Minister Norma Foley, and another example of a government that cannot be trusted with taxpayers' money.

Deputy Clarke highlighted how the €9m could have been used to fund 8,181 places on school buses, 779 transport places for pupils with special educational needs, 220 special needs assistants (SNAs) or 120 special education teachers (SETs).

Clarke said: “The inexplicable decision to allocate €9m in Budget 2025 for smart phone pouches is nothing more than a vanity project for Minister Norma Foley. and yet another example of a government that cannot be trusted with taxpayers' money.

“What’s worse is that €9m could have made a real difference to our education system if it was spent wisely.

€9m could have been used to fund 8181 school bus places.

€9m could have been used to fund 779 transport places for pupils with special educational needs.

€9m could have been used to fund 220 special needs assistants.

€9m could have been used to fund 120 special education teachers.

“The decision to instead use this figure on smart phone pouches is inexplicable. I have heard the decision being described as ‘tone deaf’ - that description doesn’t even scratch the surface.

“It is grotesque and inexcusable, particularly at a time when Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed abysmally to fund Ireland’s schools, with some schools struggling to keep the lights on.

“This latest squandering of taxpayers' money coming on the back of the €2.2bn Children's Hospital, the €336,000 bike shed, the €1.4m security hut, forking out €442,000 on modular homes that were supposed to cost €200,000, and spending €10m of taxpayers’ money for a war chest in an attempt to deny this state the €14bn Apple Tax money it was due.

“We need a government that can be trusted with the taxpayers’ money, and trusted to get value for money. Sinn Féin’s alternative budget outlined our plans to recruit more than 1,500 special education teachers and almost 1,900 additional special needs assistants to better support children with special educational needs.

“That where investment in our education system is needed - not on vanity projects for Norma Foley.”