Billy Kelleher
Question:70. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her policy to combat cyberbullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56696/12]
View answerTuesday, 18 December 2012
Questions (70)
Written answers
As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs I am concerned about the impact that bullying of any kind.
My Department’s 'Growing Up in Ireland' study has found that over 24% of 9 to 17 year olds have reported been bullied. A recent EU study to examine the safety of children on the internet found that 4% of children between the ages of 9 and 16 in Ireland experienced online bullying compared with an EU average of 6%. This finding is also supported by the "Growing up in Ireland" research which showed that 5% of 9 year olds experienced cyber-bullying.
Bullying and cyber-bullying can have a terrible and corrosive impact on our children and young people, on their confidence, learning outcomes, self-esteem and mental health. The affects of bullying can last for years. Sadly, in some case they can result in the loss of young lives. In recent times we have learned of a number of very tragic cases where bullying was involved. On behalf of the Government and on my own behalf I wish extend my sympathies to the families and friends of the young people who have died.
Cyber-bullying is, in most cases, simply an extension of bullying in other forms and other settings. However rather than simply extending bullying beyond the schoolyard, the internet has been used to amplify the venom of bullying. In seeking to respond to cyber-bullying, we should seek to start by addressing bullying in the round through a ‘whole-school-community’ approach.
Parents have an important role to play here and I would hope that parents would take a more pro-active role in discussing with their children their online activities in the same way the school day might be discussed. In recent weeks I have become aware that many schools and parents associations in community right around the country have arranged information events for parents on issues relating to internet safety and cyber-bullying. I wish to commend all involved in organising such and I would encourage other schools and parents associations to do likewise. I would remind all parents, teachers and young people that information on cyber-bullying is available at www.webwise.ie which is supported by the National Centre for Technology in Education.
Last month I met with Simon Millner, Policy Director for Facebook in Ireland and the UK. I was impressed with the child-focused and user-friendly safeguards and supports which Facebook have put in place to protect children and respond to concerns over cyber-bullying and inappropriate online behaviour. I subsequently arranged for the National Anti-Bullying Forum working group to meet with Facebook. However it is a matter of concern that certain other websites popular among Irish teenagers do not include the same safeguards. I refer in particular to website such as the ‘ask.fm’ website which has come to attention in Ireland in recent weeks due to its use as a platform for cyber-bullying. While I have asked the Latvian authorities to investigate lack of safeguards applying to this website, I appreciate that given the global and open nature of the internet, options of regulation are constrained.
Earlier this year the Minister for Education and Skills and I jointly hosted the first National Anti-Bullying Forum to bring relevant stakeholders together to consider the strategies and practices required to address bullying in schools and the new challenges associated with modern communication technologies. Since then, a dedicated working group, on which my Department is represented, has been working to develop an action plan to effectively tackle bullying in schools. The group is examining the need for collaborative ‘whole-school-community’ approach to addressing bullying which I have referred to.
I understand the group expects to complete its work by end of year and it is envisaged that their final report will address issues including:
Updated anti-bullying guidelines for schools;
Supporting teachers and schools;
Enhanced awareness and information initiatives.
The Government has allocated €500,000 for anti-bullying measures in schools in the 2013 estimates for the Department of Education & Skills. My Department will also seek to support implementation of the report’s recommendations including engaging with parents’ group and internet industry. It is my intention to ensure that the actions recommended by the Anti-Bullying Working Group and other measures to respond to bullying will be prioritised in the new Children & Young People’s Policy Framework which is currently being prepared by my Department.