Crossword Genius

Stones county administrations that limit mobile program (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sapphires

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'stones' is the definition.
(I know this)

'county administrations that limit mobile program' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'program' could be 'app' (type of computer program) and 'app' is found within the answer.
'county' could be 'shire' (term for a county, eg Hampshire, Warwickshire etc) and 'shire' is present in the remaining letters.
A single letter 's' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sapphires that I've seen before include "precious stones" , "Blue gems" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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