Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she and her Department continue to monitor the incidents of school bullying particularly through electronic means; if she is satisfied regarding the extent to which support is made immediately available for victims and that such victims have ready access to reporting mechanism and subsequent support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45725/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department published new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year.

These procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. They place a strong focus on education and prevention strategies to deal with bullying behaviour including, in particular, cyberbullying and identity based bullying such as homophobic and transphobic bullying. The procedures make clear that the focus of any prevention and education awareness measures in schools about cyber-bullying should be on educating pupils on how to stay safe while on-line and also on developing a culture of reporting any concerns about cyber-bullying. The procedures also recognise that parents and pupils have a role and responsibility in helping the school to prevent and address school-based bullying behaviour and to deal with any negative impact within school of bullying behaviour that occurs elsewhere.

The procedures set out requirements in relation to the consistent investigation, follow up and recording of bullying behaviour amongst pupils. They also require that a programme of support for pupils who have been bullied must be in place in all schools. Details of the school's programme for working with pupils affected by bullying must be set out in the school's anti-bullying policy.

There is no requirement for reporting incidents of bullying centrally to the Department. The procedures contain new oversight arrangements which include a requirement that the school Principal reports regularly to the board of management in relation to the overall numbers of bullying cases and provides confirmation that they are being dealt with in accordance with the anti-bullying procedures. The board of management is also required to undertake an annual review of the school's anti-bullying policy and its implementation by the school. Written confirmation that the review has been completed must be made available to the Parents' Association and published on the school website.

Arising from commitments made in the Action Plan on Bullying, my Department's Inspectorate is placing a stronger focus on the actions schools take to create a positive school culture and to prevent and tackle bullying. For example, parent and student questionnaires issued as part of whole school evaluations, include, since January 2014, additional questions to get a clearer picture of how the school deals with bullying. Furthermore, the Inspectorate's plan for the current school year provides for a focussed evaluation to be conducted in a sample of schools to examine the school's work to create and sustain safe and healthy environments.