Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

School Bullying and the Impact on Mental Health: Discussion (Resumed)

Ms Jane McGarrigle:

It is on the peer-to-peer question. We run an annual peer-led training initiative. Mr. Holmes is part of it. On the question of what is effective in the peer-led area, the most effective responses we see in that is that the peer-led training is part of a whole-school approach. It is supported by ongoing lessons in the classrooms, supported by teachers, supported by robust policies and involves everybody. Our peer-led training initiative gives students the opportunity to identify issues that are important to them. In saying that, I am talking about online safety and cyberbullying in particular. One of the big issues that emerged from our peer-led training initiative this year was that post-primary students were really keen to involve and support parents as well. There should be additional supports and training available for parents. We have seen increased engagement from parents in online safety this year as we all have spent more time online. It is very important that we do as much as we can to involve parents and give them access to training and to supports that work with them.