Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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162. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he has taken or will take to address the issue of Internet bullying in respect of children and young adults outside of an educational environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36301/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am committed to working with colleagues in Government to ensure that integrated policy responses to combat bullying are high on our agenda and that the necessary supports are in place for a safe environment for children and young adults.

There is a range of support services, supported by various departments and their agencies, including my own Department, which can assist children and young people in coping with bullying situations. These include advice and guidance for families. For example, www.webwise.ie- an initiative of the Department of Education and Skills - provides information and advice for parents and teachers about risks and how to protect children against cyber bullying. At community level, many of the voluntary youth services funded by my Department provide education programmes, run awareness campaigns about bullying and provide programmes for young people to give them the knowledge and skills to build supportive links and counter bullying behaviours.

The new procedures under the Action Plan for Bullying, led by the Department of Education and Skills, which place a requirement on all schools to address incidences of bullying, are highly relevant to the contexts of young people’s lives and not only in the school setting. They specifically include incidences of cyber bullying that occur both in and out of the school context and the posting of hurtful messages, images or statements on social media sites, within the definition of bullying. They highlight the need for parents and young people to understand how to use modern technologies safely and to know how to protect themselves in school, at home and in their communities. The Office for Internet Safety, under the Department of Justice and Equality, takes a lead responsibility for internet safety in Ireland, particularly as it relates to children.

Under Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Childrenserious incidents of bullying should be reported to the Child and Family Agency. I have been advised that, in such cases and where it is required, appropriate support will be put in place. In addition to support for the family and the child or young adult, which can be provided by the Child and Family Agency, there are services provided by the HSE, including the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services,which may be relevant depending on the nature of the condition being experienced by a child or young adult.

My Department continues to work with other departments, child care services, education welfare services and the youth sector to raise awareness about bullying, its impact on children and young people, to improve access to information and support for them and their families and to advance measures to combat bullying and promote a safer environment for our young people.