Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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375. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the establishment of a statutory digital safety commissioner in line with the recommendation by the Law Reform Commission to enhance cyber security for young persons and to encourage them to become responsible digital citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44979/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Lead responsibility in this area rests with the Department of Communication Climate Action and Environment. I am aware that Minister Denis Naughten announced earlier this year that he is considering the feasibility of establishing a Digital Safety Commissioner as recommended by the Law Reform Commission in its 2016 report on Harmful Communication and Digital Safety. I have not yet seen his proposals in this regard and am not therefore in a position to offer a view at this point. I share his concern along with colleagues in Government about the importance of enhancing cyber security, particularly for vulnerable groups, including children and young people, as well as for parents. I do not underestimate the challenge for this Government and for Governments worldwide to address this significant challenge.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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376. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action taken by her Department in terms of the production of guidance material for young persons in order to educate them on the way in which to be safe online and to protect themselves in regard to cyber security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44980/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department has not produced guidance material of the type outlined by the Deputy, I am not responsible for that topic. The main responsibility for guidance in this regard is with the Office of Internet Safety, an executive office based in the Department of Justice and Equality. Lead policy responsibility in this area is with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. I know that the Department of Education and Skills has produced very important guidance in the context of addressing cyberbullying.

I fully appreciate the importance of guidance material for young persons in order to educate them on the way in which to be safe online and to protect themselves in regard to cyber security. I am supportive of efforts to provide such guidance. My Department supports the National Youth Health Programme which is in partnership with the HSE and the National Youth Council of Ireland. The programme's aims are to provide a broad based, flexible health promotion/education support and training service to youth organisations and to all those working with young people in out-of-school settings. The ‘Web Safety in Youth Work’ resource, available on the National Youth Council’s website, provides valuable advice to young people on reporting online behaviour and on passing on concerns about the protection and welfare of a child or young person.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, produced a Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook, intended for social workers and other professionals who refer child welfare and protection cases. The Handbook contains advice in respect of online safety and online child sexual abuse in order to heighten awareness of same.