Written answers

Thursday, 19 September 2013

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Bullying of Children

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

173. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which a rapid alert system will be put in place to detect and combat bullying of children and young adults through electronic/social media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38982/13]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, I am committed to working with colleagues in Government to ensure that integrated policy responses to combat bullying are high on our collective agenda. Our Programme for Government commits that “we will encourage schools to develop anti-bullying policies and in particular, strategies to combat homophobic bullying to support students.”

The implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying, to which my Department contributed, is being led by the Department of Education and Skills. These actions require collaborative work with a broad base of interests to protect children from bullying and ensure a safer childhood. New anti-bullying procedures have now been published by my colleague Minister Quinn which place a requirement on all recognised schools to record, investigate and address incidences of bullying in a structured manner. The procedures specifically include incidences of cyberbullying, both in and out of the school context or the posting of hurtful messages, images or statements on social media sites, within the definition of bullying.

The new procedures highlight the need for parents and young people to understand how to use modern technologies safely; they must recognise the risks associated with the cyber world and know how to protect themselves in school, at home and in their communities. This includes raising awareness of available tools within social media platforms such as privacy settings, how to block other users and the use of the complaints mechanisms provided.

The www.webwise.ie site provides valuable information and advice for parents and teachers about the risks involved and how to protect children against cyber bullying. It is important to encourage anyone who is subjected to bullying to contact the Gardaí and Health Service Executive as appropriate to report the matter.

On the question of an alert system, the Deputy may be aware of the Safer Internet Ireland Project, which is coordinated by the Office for Internet Safety under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. This EU supported project provides awareness, hotline and helpline functions and activities in Ireland. The website Hotline.ie is supported and funded by the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland to provide a means for individuals to easily report incidences of illegal activity on the internet.

The recent report by the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications entitled “Addressing the Growth of Social Media and Tackling Cyberbullying ” is very helpful to our collective efforts to address these issues. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is leading the Government's consideration of this wide ranging report. This report includes a series of recommendations in response to the growing concerns over cyberbullying and its impact on young people. In light of the scale and the transnational nature of social media platforms and the web-based industry in general, the Oireachtas Committee recognised the requirement for collective EU-wide responses. The European Commission Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (2012) will play a key role in this regard.

My Department continues to work with other Departments, childcare services, education welfare services and the youth sector to raise awareness about bullying, its impact on children and young people and to advance measures to tackle prejudice, combat bullying and promote a safer environment for our young people.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.