Vol. 496 No. 5
143 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the case of bullying against a person (details supplied); if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that no action has been taken by the school authorities or his Department to bring this bullying to an end and the victim is not attending school as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23264/98]
The board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of primary schools. In 1993 my Department issued Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour to all primary and post-primary schools. The purpose of the guidelines was to assist schools in devising school based measures to prevent and deal with instances of bullying behaviour and to increase the awareness of the problem among school management, staff, pupils and parents. A further circular in 1994 reminded school authorities of their responsibility in formulating a written code of behaviour and discipline which should include specific measures to counter bullying behaviour.
My Department investigates specific complaints which involve an alleged breach of the rules for national schools, including bullying complaints, but only after every effort has been made to resolve the matter at local level.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, the complaint received by my Department alleges bullying of the complainants' daughter by another pupil. When the matter was originally brought to my Department's attention, my officials replied to the child's parent by outlining the responsibilities of the board of management of the school in relation to bullying and discipline and setting out the Department's complaints procedure.
Should the person referred to by the Deputy fail to resolve the matter at local level, she has been advised by my officials to forward her permission to my Department to have the matter pursued on her behalf with the board of management of the school.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to conclude this matter as speedily as possible.
