Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

In recent years the Department of Education and Science became involved in a pilot project in Donegal to combat bullying in schools at national and second levels. That project resulted in a 50% reduction in the incidence of this serious problem in schools, which has consequences later in life for those affected by it. However, the Department and the Minister have decided not to fund the extension of this programme. The Department is withdrawing funding from it despite it having gone to the expense of training an additional 30 teachers nationally to implement a new programme to combat bullying.

The Leader will be aware that bullying is one of the contributory factors to the awful problem of suicide, which is increasing. On the one hand, the Department of Health and Children provides many glossy brochures that are of no use in tackling this problem so I do not understand why, on the other hand, the Department of Education and Science has decided to withdraw funding from this important area in education. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Science to provide the necessary funding to extend this programme nationwide because tackling this problem is important in view of the increasing incidence of suicide, to which bullying is a contributory factor?