Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister mentioned guidelines, but has she given any further thought to having a national strategy against bullying so that we can ensure it works and that it contains specific aims and targets? I am sure the Minister read the report on the results of a survey carried out in 2004. Some 90% of respondents said their school anti-bullying policy did not refer to lesbian or gay related bullying. Will the Minister send guidelines to schools to deal with homophobic bullying until there is a national strategy in place?

The Minister would agree that the nature of bullying has changed. While we still have traditional bullying, there is now text bullying and bullying on Bebo websites etc. With regard to the guidelines and the consideration of a national strategy, what regard is being given to the changing nature of bullying and to the fact that it is no longer just a schoolyard phenomenon but something that follows children into their homes after school?

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