Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Admirable work is done in schools. Work is done all the time at one-to-one level between individual teachers and students in cases where a teacher is either told of a particular problem or senses there is a problem and decides to act. The work done by school principals and guidance counsellors is far-reaching.

This is an issue to which the Minister for Education and Skills has given particular emphasis. He recently published guidelines on cyberbullying and a strategy and policy on well-being in schools which addresses the very issues Deputy Halligan raises.

As part of the reform of the junior certificate cycle, the issue of well being in schools is being integrated into it. This issue cannot be set aside or treated as a separate segment of school activity. It is a part of the overall work that is done in schools by teachers and principals working with pupils. A revised policy framework has been put in place by the Minister for Education and Skills.

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