Vol. 500 No. 7
395 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science his Department's policy on bullying in schools; if he has satisfied himself that this policy is being implemented in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5072/99]
Bullying in schools is an issue of particular concern to me. It is a most complex and difficult problem and this is recognised in the depth and detail of our national policy. This policy was prepared by an expert working group and was put in place in 1993 following consultation with the partners in education. The policy includes guidelines which were issued to all schools and are available to the public from my Department. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist schools in devising school based measures to prevent and deal with instances of bullying behaviour and to increase awareness of the problem among school management, staff, pupils and parents. I feel sure that they have been of very real assistance to schools in dealing with this issue and that schools take their responsibilities in this area very seriously.
A central aim of the new subject of social, personal and health education currently being developed for second level schools is the promotion of positive mental health in young people so that they will neither perpetrate nor condone any sort of violence against others. The programme also includes training in tolerance and assertiveness so that students may cope with situations where they are being pressurised or bullied.
In situations where it is not possible to resolve difficulties arising from bullying behaviour locally, it is open to parents to bring these matters to my attention and I will arrange to have appropriate inquiries made.
