Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 883: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the measures and mechanism in place to keep children safe especially with the rise of new Internet programmes that can open the door to strangers and violent video games; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10299/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Schools Broadband Programme provides broadband internet access to Primary and Post Primary schools and includes Content Filtering as an integral part of the service. The Content Filtering service is designed to control the level of access from schools, via the broadband network, to the wider internet. It does this by categorising websites under various categories and providing content filtering 'options' to schools which allow or block a combination of these website categories. Based on information and advice provided by the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), the schools themselves decide on which content filtering option is most appropriate to school needs and confirm this to the NCTE. This option is then set up for the school. Currently two options have been implemented for schools. However, this may change based on the feedback from schools and responding to schools requirements.

No school is connected to the internet via the schools broadband network unless it has confirmed in writing: a) an Internet Acceptable Usage Policy in place and b) its Content Filtering option to the NCTE. Content Filtering is a technology based service that assists in the management of websites for schools. Along with education/awareness and supervision it forms the basis of implementing a safe environment for pupils in schools.

My Department, through the NCTE, actively provides support and guidelines to schools regarding Information and Communication Technologies and the possible risks associated with their use by young people. Through its internet safety initiative the NCTE developed the "Webwise" website (www.webwise.ie). The site offers advice and guidance to schools, pupils and parents. The site has materials and resources to assist children to develop safe online skills.

I recently launched the new "think b4 u click" internet safety campaign. This campaign seeks to raise awareness and promote safe, responsible practice by young people when online.

The campaign has a strong peer-to-peer perspective and centres on an interactive online service, www.watchyourspace.ie, developed by the NCTE. This site offers practical tips and advice and supports teenagers who use the web. A key feature is the advice given by teenagers to teenagers on how to cope with the fall-out from abuses and misuse of social networking and picture-sharing websites. This new initiative compliments the other NCTE safety activities that are already up and running successfully such as Webwise, SAFT and the Once projects.

Watch Your Space has presentations of the key findings from studies of teenagers' use of the Internet by other teenagers. It is also integrated with an online helpline service from Childline. The website is being promoted through a poster campaign in schools and is supported by an educational and informational pack being sent to all schools.