Plans for the provision of telecommunications masts on State buildings near schools have been put on hold until an interdepartmental committee considers the health implications of electromagnetic radiation.
This follows controversy relating to plans to erect a phone mast on a public building near a south Dublin school.
The Office of Public Works had proposed to erect the mast on a building housing the Central Statistics Office in Rathmines, next door to St Mary's College, a primary and secondary school for boys.
The mast was to be erected as part of the "transforming State assets programme", and consultants Vilicom had been appointed to oversee the erection of masts on State buildings as part of the programme.
Twelve buildings were earmarked and the Rathmines building, known as Ardee House, was the first to get the go-ahead.
The proposal was strongly resisted by local representatives, and was raised in the Dáil. Principal of St Mary's College Clive Byrne had also expressed concern about the scheme.
Fianna Fáil's Chris Andrews, said he hoped the committee would recommend revised guidelines. "The switching off of the equipment, installed some months ago in Ardee House, is a very welcome development for the parents and pupils of St Mary's College," he said.