Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce the yellow flag anti-racism programme to all schools nationally; the cost of doing this; if she has liaised with the Minister for Justice and Equality, in view of the success of this programme in the schools that it is currently run in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15325/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department's policy in this area is underpinned by the Action Plan on Bullying. Guidelines to assist schools in developing an Anti-Bullying Policy were issued to all schools in 2013. Schools may choose from a number of programmes available to them in order to deal with the particular issues they have identified and my Department does not endorse any one particular programme. The approach adopted under the Action Plan is for schools to use the programme best suited to address the particular challenges they face.

The Action Plan does not favour addressing identity-based bullying on an issue-by-issue basis, but rather recommends respect for all. Therefore, I do not think it would be appropriate to fund the roll-out of the Yellow Flag programme on a national basis. This was costed by the Irish Traveller Movement at €250,000 over three years.

I can confirm that there is ongoing liaison between officials of my Department and officials of the Department of Justice and Equality in the context of equality matters generally, including national fora in relation to Travellers.