Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there is a requirement on schools to have a bullying statement; the level of compliance with the requirement; the way in which it is monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4043/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department's guidelines on countering bullying behaviour in schools, all schools are recommended to have in place a policy which includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour, within the framework of an overall school code of behaviour and discipline. Such a code, properly devised and implemented, can be the most influential measure in countering bullying behaviour in schools. Schools are not required to report to my Department on the implementation of the guidelines. However, in the course of whole school evaluations, my Department's inspectors have noted that the vast majority of schools have such policies in place. In addition, my Department funds a number of support services which provide direct assistance to schools in developing such policies.