Written answers

Thursday, 22 March 2012

Department of Health

Bullying of Children

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which she intends to put in place supportive measures for children or teenagers who are victims of bullying; the extent to which the reporting of such incidents is facilitated; the steps taken or likely to be taken to address the issues arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15766/12]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will indicate, from the information available to her, the age group of children or teenagers most likely to become victims of bullying; the most effective preventive measures if known; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15767/12]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.

I am aware that children and young people are susceptible to bullying which can emanate from a variety of sources.

My Department funds, in association with the Department of Social Protection and the Central Statistics Office the National Longitudinal Study of Children "Growing up in Ireland". In 2009 the study published its report on the lives of 9 year olds in which it found that bullying and victimisation represent a worrying aspect of a substantial proportion of children's experiences with their peers. Research suggests that bullying is quite pervasive in Irish schools.

Most commonly children reported that they had been verbally bullied, followed by exclusion and physical bullying. Bullying via written messages and electronic means was less prominent. Boys and girls experienced similar rates of victimisation with boys more likely to experience physical and verbal bullying, while girls were more likely to have experienced exclusion.

Children First, the National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children identifies that bullying in schools is a particular problem and offers some guidance on the issue. It highlights the need for school management boards to have a policy in place to deal with bullying, and to ensure that the teachers are aware of this policy and of procedural guidelines to deal with it.

Serious instances of bullying behaviour, whether by other children or by adults should be reported to the HSE Children and Family Services in accordance with the procedures outlined in Children First.

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