Ms Ann O'Dwyer:

Senator Dolan asked about the empathy programme. It was provided by Barnardos for teachers. Teachers must attend a full week's training, which shows how important it is and the quality of the training that is provided for teachers. The teacher engages with either a family member or somebody connected to the school who has a small baby and over the year the baby is the coach. The teacher is coaching the students to engage with the baby. The whole idea is that they observe the growth and development of a small baby and it develops their emotional connection and their empathy. We know that at the root of bullying is a lack of empathy and this early intervention in particular with primary schoolchildren is about developing their empathy, their basic human kindness, their affection for the baby and their learning and understanding. There is evidence from research which shows that it reduces aggression hugely and it develops empathy and social skills as well. Whenever we have served it in primary schools everybody talks about it. The children go home and talk to their parents about it. The family engages in the conversations with the children as well and we hear back from the children, the teachers and the families that are involved that this is hugely impactful for children. We know from longitudinal studies that even years later it has a huge impact on younger children so I think this is a programme we should certainly engage with.