An increasing number of secondary school students now own mobile phones.
Mobile phone companies have reported their best ever December sales, with well over one hundred thousand units being sold. The figures indicate that mobile phones are now being targeted at younger buyers.
Forget Nike trainers, this is the newest, hippest play ground accessory.
Over the Christmas period, mobile phones enjoyed a sales surge. Esat sold around a hundred thousand phones between October and December. Eircell hope to reach a million sales this year.
At Dominican College Sion Hill school in Dublin, 40 per cent of pupils carry mobile phones. The pre-pay model has brought the mobile phone to younger users. Principal Dr Mick Brady outlines the school policy on mobile phone usage. Students are not permitted to have their phones switched on during class.
It may not be long before every school child has a mobile phone next to their pencil case.
According to Edel Clancy, from Eircell, mobile phones offer parents peace of mind knowing that they can contact their children at any time.
This is a way of giving security to mum and dad.
There is also a phone for even younger children known as the primary school mobile, 'The Buddy Phone' has fixed dial settings so that the child can only call a limited amount of preset phone numbers.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 January 2000. The reporter is Tony Connelly.
