Written answers

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Department of Education and Skills

Bullying of Children

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which her Department continues to monitor bullying among children or teenagers while out of school or on school holidays; if an evaluation has been completed to determine the extent to which incidents are on the increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27969/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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There is no requirement that schools report incidents of bullying behaviour to my Department. However, the Deputy may 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.

The 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 include specific requirements in relation to the use of prevention and education strategies and the consistent investigation, follow up and recording of bullying behaviour.

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 include important new oversight arrangements that involve the school Principal reporting regularly to the Board of Management and a requirement for the Board to undertake an annual review of the school's anti- bullying policy and its implementation. Confirmation that the annual review has been completed must be provided 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.

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