Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. He has said his Department and the Department of Education and Skills hope to publish guidelines shortly. While guidelines are important, I would like to know whether there are proposals to legislate for teachers and others who work with children to be required to be aware of the need for training, procedures and accountability in this area. This is an important matter. I am not sure whether the Minister is aware that the National Anti-Bullying Coalition has recently estimated that at least €40 million is spent each year on substitution costs when teachers who have been the victims of bullying are absent. Bullying within the education system is mainly directed at children, but we must recognise that teachers also suffer as a result of it. It is important for this to be recognised and taken on board in proposals or guidelines drawn up by the Minister's Department and the Department of Education and Skills. I hope the Minister will speak to the Minister for Education and Skills when the guidelines are being drafted to see whether it will be possible for legislation to be introduced to make it compulsory for proper bullying procedures to be implemented. It is important for him to do so.

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