John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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939. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills with respect to parental and pupil concerns with regard to abuse and exposure to social media platforms, is she satisfied that schools maintain a well-informed dialogue with parents and students with regard to the vulnerabilities of individuals around social media. [19916/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 sets out the Department’s policy approach to continue the progress made in embedding digital technology in teaching and learning in primary and post-primary schools. The Strategy was published in 2022 with the delivery of actions under the associated implementation plan underway. Online safety and the safe and ethical use of digital technologies is a key component of the Digital Strategy.

The Strategy supports an extensive array of training material and resources developed and provided by Webwise, the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, to support teachers, students and parents on online safety. Webwise is funded by the Department of Education and the EU Internet Safety Initiative and is part of the Irish Safer Internet Centre, which also partners with Hotline.ie, ISPCC Childline and the National Parents Council.

Webwise promotes the autonomous, effective and safe use of the internet through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting school leaders, teachers, parents and children themselves. Webwise develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate digital citizenship and online safety into teaching and learning in their schools. Webwise also run campaigns addressing key topical issues as they arise.

The www.webwise.ie resource includes a dedicated School/Teachers Hub, a Parents Hub and a Youth Hub. These give practical information and advice on the safe, ethical and responsible use of the internet and address key issues such as cyberbullying, sexting, image sharing, respectful communication, social media, popular apps and more.

The School/Teachers Hub has a range of curricular supports for teachers that they can use when teaching pupils/students about online safety including how to deal with cyberbullying and online harassment and the importance of respectful online communication. It includes a Webwise Parents Presentation is designed to assist schools who wish to host parent internet safety evenings.

It also includes a new onlinesafetyreview.webwise.ie/ . The tool is designed to support schools at all stages of their online safety journey in identifying strengths and areas for improvement across key areas: culture and environment; relationships and partnerships; curriculum; and policy, planning, and practice. This tool supports a whole-school approach to ensuring a safer online environment for students.

The Webwise Youth Hub is a proactive and creative hub for young people. It is a place where young people can get advice on internet safety and become more involved in making the internet a better place for all users. It contains a range of video and promotional campaigns by Webwise and its youth panellists that tackle issues such as cyberbullying, image sharing and sexting and advice on where to get help.

The Webwise Safer Internet Day Ambassador Programme (an annual EU wide initiative) is an important aspect of internet safety in schools and the prevention of bullying and encourages the active involvement of students in building a positive school climate. Webwise developed this peer-led training programme to encourage students to take a leading role in Safer Internet Day and explore topics important to them.

In addition, Oide, the Department funded support service for teachers and school leaders, provides a variety of professional learning to teachers that places the learner at the centre of the learning experience. It provides school-based supports, workshops, specific resources and training online and in person. Oide has dedicated Wellbeing teams at Primary and Post-Primary. These teams support teachers and schools, through the social personal and health education (SPHE) curriculum, to develop and promote the personal development, health and wellbeing of the student, to create a positive school environment and culture, and, to prevent and tackle bullying, including online bullying and harassment.

SPHE aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge to navigate the world around them, including the online world. At primary level the curriculum aims to enable children to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, fostering a healthy relationship with technology and media in a variety of contexts.

Learning outcomes at Junior Cycle includes students’ exploration of factors that influence mental health and wellbeing, including the influence of family, community, peers, school, social media, digital technology, and self-image and identity. The strand of Relationship and Sexuality Education at Junior cycle also includes learning outcomes relating to friendships, family relationships and romantic relationships, as well the influence of popular culture and the online world.

As part of the teaching and learning of SPHE, many sensitive issues may arise, and the aim is to address them in a way that is inclusive and that is age and stage appropriate. SPHE doesn’t start or end at school. It works best when parents and schools work together, using the same approach. This partnership ensures that children have a consistent experience and can see the links between what they learn at home, in school, and in their community.

The importance of reaching out to a trusted adult, such as a parent or guardian is a strong and repeated message within SPHE.

To address the need to support teachers in upskilling in digital citizenship, a “Digital Citizenship Champions” programme has been developed, to equip primary teachers with essential knowledge, skills and resources to effectively teach and champion digital citizenship in schools and through their local Education Centre. In addition, an “Agree to Agree” pilot online safety initiative is currently underway across three education centres and involves 21 primary schools. Each school community is supported to collaborate, design and implement an Internet and Technology Use Agreement particular to their individual circumstance. It is intended to progress and expand these programmes, to also include post-primary schools.

There is a number of actions in my department’s Action Plan on Bullying (Cineáltas) that relate to the area of online safety. Under Cineáltas, funding is provided to the Dublin City University Anti-Bullying Centre to support the delivery of their FUSE anti-bullying and online safety programme for schools. The Bí Cineálta Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post Primary Schools were published in June 2024. The procedures support a partnership approach where all members of the school community work together to prevent and address bullying (including cyberbullying) behaviour. Under the procedures, schools are required to engage with their school community to develop their new Bí Cineálta policy. This includes engaging with students and their parents, as well as the board of management and school staff. Training is also available for parents and boards of management.