Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

535. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which provision continues to be made to eliminate bullying throughout the educational sector in both the academic and technical divisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27254/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that there are a number of Programme for Government (PfG) commitments aimed at addressing bullying, including a commitment to commission surveys of staff and students in the areas of harassment, sexual harassment, and bullying in higher education. These surveys have now taken place and the findings published.

Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to ensure that students and staff members have a safe environment to study/work; free from bullying, harassment or other forms of unwanted behaviour. The Deputy will be familiar with the ‘Speak Out’ tool which my Department has funded. In 2023, an evaluation of the Speak Out pilot initiative was commissioned by the HEA which proposed recommendations for a sustainable governance and management model for the Speak Out Anonymous Reporting Tool. The recommendations of this report are being implemented. Funding has been secured to support the implementation of Speak Out on an annual basis.

The Speak Out Governance and Oversight Committee has been established and encompasses representatives from my Department; the Higher Education Authority; the Technological Higher Education Association; the Irish Universities Association; higher education colleges and the Union of Students in Ireland.

The HEA, in collaboration with the Speak Out Governance and Oversight Committee, have invited Expressions of Interest from eligible higher education institutions or representative bodies to establish a National Office for the management and operation of the Speak Out Anonymous Reporting tool.

My Department in conjunction with DCU’s National Anti-Bullying Centre recently published the results of a national survey on student experiences of bullying in the higher education sector. The online survey asked about the experiences of bullying among higher education students across Ireland. Respondents were asked to reflect on their experiences of interacting with other students within higher education institutions. The primary goal of the project was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of bullying among higher education students across Ireland. Insights from this study will be used to implement new or updated policies, processes, training and resources to support higher education institutions in addressing these issues. The reports on national surveys by the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre have been shared with higher education institutions.

The tertiary education and training sector must lead the way in changing cultures, behaviours and practices across society to ensure that bullying, sexual violence and harassment are not tolerated. I want to bring about institutional change where all forms of unwanted behaviour are eradicated.