Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is concerned at recent reports that indicate a high level of homophobic bullying in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7910/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has in place a multi-faceted strategy to tackle the issue of bullying, including homophobic bullying, which I regard as a very serious issue. A central part of the social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum is the education of students in anti-bullying behaviour. SPHE is now a compulsory subject both at primary level and in the junior cycle of post-primary schools. In addition, other programmes such as civic social and political education, relationship and sexuality education and the exploring masculinities programme address diversity and equality from different perspectives, including sexual orientation.

Each school is required 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. My Department has provided "Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour in Schools" to assist schools in developing this policy. In addition, my Department has part funded an advice booklet for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered young people which has been distributed to guidance counsellors together with appropriate guidelines for its use.

My Department is also funding two specific projects dealing with this issue. These are HIV-AIDS education, sexuality education and homophobia in Irish second level schools and a review of the exploring masculinities programme. The outcomes of these projects will greatly assist the development of policy in this area and will be carefully examined in my Department.