Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the level of school bullying at primary and second level schools throughout the country; if particular issues have arisen which may benefit from specific attention; if traditional methods of dealing with the issue continue to be effective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16708/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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New anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools were published 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.

All Boards of Management are required to adopt and implement an anti-bullying policy that fully complies with the requirements of these procedures. A template anti-bullying policy which must be used by all schools for this purpose is included in the procedures.

The procedures for schools outline key principles of best practice for both preventing and tackling bullying and require all schools to commit to these principles in their anti-bullying policy. In particular, they emphasise that a cornerstone in the prevention of bullying is a positive school culture and climate. In that regard, the procedures set out the need for schools to encourage and strengthen open dialogue between all school staff and pupils and to ensure that they provide appropriate opportunities for pupils to raise their concerns in an environment that is comfortable for the pupil.

The anti-bullying procedures also 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 for schools put in place important new oversight arrangements at school level 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.

While there is no requirement on schools to report incidents of bullying behaviour to my Department, in the course of their whole school inspection work, my Department’s Inspectorate gathers information about how schools deal with bullying in a number of ways through:

- Review of relevant school documentation, including the school’s Code of Behaviour and Ant-Bullying policy;

- Meetings with parents and student representatives at which there is an opportunity for parents and students to raise issues where relevant and

- The inclusion of parent and student Questionnaires on items relating to bullying.

Students and parents are also asked to respond to questions about how the school deals with bullying and discipline in the school and whether or not the school provides a safe environment for children.

Where responses indicate that students and/or parent do not believe that bullying is dealt with effectively, Inspectors raise this issue with school management who have ultimate responsibility for Anti-Bullying policies and procedures.

The publication of the new procedures for schools represented the conclusion of just one of the twelve actions set out in the Action Plan on Bullying which was published in January 2013.  Other actions that have been progressed include:

- A new national anti-bullying website, www.tacklebullying.ie,was launched in November 2015. The website provides a single point of information and support for young people, parents and teachers affected by bullying - My Department supports anti-bullying initiatives aimed at young people such as, the StandUp! Against Homophobic and Transphobic bullying campaign, organised by BeLonG To, the National Youth Service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people in Ireland and the Europe-wide initiative, Safer Internet Day.  

- Since 2013 new resources to tackle cyberbullying  “UP2US”, “My Selfie and the wider world” and “Lockers” were  launched through the internet safety initiative, Web wise and an P2US social media roadshow was run in collaboration with Beat 102-103.