Minister Daly launches device to help kids stay safe online

PRIMARY schools across West Cork are to receive a free internet safety device to help both schools and parents to keep children safe online. 

Along with this initiative, a series of public meetings in the coming months will also assist parents in protecting their children while online.

Minister Jim Daly launched the initiative this week, when the former school principal and now Minister of State at the Department of Health, visited the National School he attended in Drinagh over 30 years ago. 

The scheme will see every primary school in West Cork receive a free iKydz device which protects children from harmful websites, as well as regulating the amount of time they spend online.

Minister Daly, who previously published heads of a bill to regulate the sale of internet devices to minors, reminisced on his own school days when internet safety was not on the agenda, but noted the increasing difficulties associated with internet usage by younger people.

‘The world wide web presents amazing opportunities but also some increasing threats, as the world gets smaller but the web gets wider and wilder, and so we must up our game when it comes to protecting our children when online,’ said Minister Daly.

‘I am delighted to promote iKydz and their safety products, they are a company dedicated to the well-being of our children as they explore and discover more amazing experiences while online. Health and safety must be a factor in any journey.’

Chief executive of iKydz, John Molloy, added: ‘iKydz was started with the goal of making it easy for parents to protect their kids online. We provide a really simple, easy-to-use solution for parents who want to limit their kids’ exposure to inappropriate content or just want to manage the amount of time that their kids spend online.’