Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts he is making to ensure online safety for children using remote learning applications in conjunction with their schools; if data protection guidelines were sent to schools in advance of them setting up remote learning networks; his views on whether the current use of remote learning applications is in line with the national conversation with regard to children and online safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9443/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Since the announcement that schools would close due to the current pandemic my Department has made it clear that teachers and other staff in the education sector are expected to continue to work and to engage with their students to ensure the continuity of Schooling. In this regard, the nature of distance learning has required schools to take on a range of approaches to support their students and schools and teachers have demonstrated great innovation in adapting to the new situation. My Department has issued extensive guidance material for schools/teachers to use in engaging with pupils to ensure there is continuity of learning for all learners. This guidance documentation is available on my Departments website at

Guidance has also issued to parents/guardians of primary school children and is available at this same link in 12 languages.

The guidance was informed by extensive engagement with stakeholder sand feedback from a range of school surveys. The guidance documentation included the topic of staying safe in the distance learning environment and reminded schools of the continued need to implement and monitor their school policies particularly in areas such as Child Protection, Data Protection, Student/Pupil/Teacher Wellbeing and policies relating to the safe and ethical use of digital technologies.  Links to the range of curricular and other supports that continued to be available to schools for that purpose were also provided.  Schools and parents were also reminded of the extensive resources available through the Webwise programme to ensure the safe and ethical use of the internet during distance learning.  This website promotes the autonomous, effective and safe use of the internet by young people through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting school leaders, teachers, parents and children themselves with consistent and relevant messages. The website includes a dedicated School/Teacher Hub; A Parents Hub; and a Youth Hub.

Because learning is now conducted in the home environment, the Parents Hub is of particular importance during this time and this resource continues to be highlighted. This Hub provides practical advice and information to help parents safeguard their children as they use the internet and helps forge the link between home and school.  The Parents Hub features expert advice from professionals and offers useful conversation starters and tips on managing internet safety in the home.  It includes information on privacy and parental control, managing screen time, posting and sharing online, cyberbullying, popular apps and more.

The Webwise programme, which is managed by the PDST, is an internet safety initiative funded by my Department and the EU Safer Internet Project. The PDST and its Webwise team work closely with European and National stakeholders (including other government Departments) in the development of its resources and has important connections with other agencies including the National Parents Council. Webwise is also represented on the National Advisory Council for Online Safety (NACOS) which was established by Government in 2018 and where much of the national conversation with regards to online safety is conducted. The membership of the Council is drawn from children's and parents' organisations, major online platforms, and experts on online safety issues and part of the Council’s role is to conduct research and to provide advice to Government on online safety issues.  

The data protection website offers specific guidance to schools in the area of data protection legislation and provides examples, model policies, codes of practice and useful links to other resources including the national Data Commission website .

On a more general note, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and other Department funded teacher support services continues to offer online professional learning opportunities to teachers and school leaders in a range of pedagogical, curricular and educational areas including CPD on the effective use of digital technologies in

teaching, learning and assessment. The PDST has developed a new dedicated webpage of curated content to support schools and teachers engaged in distance learning in order to provide continuity to pupils/students. The page can be accessed at