Sinn Féin Criticizes Government Spending on Phone Pouches Amid Mental Health Concerns
In the Dáil, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused the ruling parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, of mismanaging public funds. She expressed outrage over a €9 million initiative providing mobile phone pouches for students, which she argues diverts resources from essential mental health services for children. McDonald noted that no teachers she consulted support the program. Responding, Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the initiative as beneficial to schools, highlighting its value in supporting student mental health if schools choose to utilize the funding.