John Browne
Question:126. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the role her Department will play in the action plan on bullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17367/13]
View answerTuesday, 16 April 2013
Questions (126)
Written answers
As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, I am committed to working with colleagues in Government to ensure that integrated policy responses to combat bullying are high on our agenda.
Recent research confirms the scale and impact bullying has on our young people.
- My Department’s 'Growing Up in Ireland' study has found that over 24% of 9 to 17 year olds have reported been bullied.
- UNICEF’s recently published “Child Well being in Rich countries” (Report Card 11) highlighted a rise in bullying among Irish young people, the report stated that 28% of children in Ireland aged 11, 13 and 15 reported “being bullied at school at least once in the past couple of months.” Ireland is only one of five countries detailed in the report to show a rise in bullying.
- Research commissioned by the GLEN (Gay & Lesbian Equality Network) & BeLonG To on the experiences of young LGBT people in Irish schools has found that 58% reported the existence of homophobic bullying in their schools.
My Department will continue to support research on bullying and hold consultations with young people to promote further research in this area.
Last January Minister Quinn and I launched the Action Plan on Bullying. This is the first plan of its kind and aims to address the serious impact of bullying on our children and young people. The publication of this plan is an important step in the Government’s absolute commitment to working with a broad base of interests to protect children and ensuring a safer childhood. To successfully tackle the underlying causes of bullying behaviour we must ensure all relevant policies and services are fully engaged with this agenda; it cannot be regarded as a standalone issue.
Although schools have a lead role in tackling bullying the plan recognises the need to have a broader approach recognising that bullying is no longer limited to classrooms. This means making sure that wherever young people are, they are protected by safety guidelines. It means making sure that wherever young people are, they are supported by an anti-bullying ethos and an Anti Bullying Framework.
In line with the Action Plan, the development of the Anti Bullying Framework is being prioritised in the context the new whole-of-government Children and Young People’s Policy Framework. This work is being led by my Department with a view to publication later this year.
The Action Plan itself provides for a number of awareness raising measures including the development of an anti-bullying website to provide a single point of access to practical advice and support in tackling and reporting bullying behaviours. I am advised that preliminary scoping work is under way in the Department of Education and Skills towards this development.
My Department is also working to place the Children First Guidelines on a statutory footing. Within this process we will explore any additional clarifications that may be required to assist schools in their response to bullying.
In recognising the lead role of schools in tackling bullying and their need for support and guidance, the National Education Welfare Board, which now comes under my Department’s remit, has issued guidelines requiring each school to have policies to prevent or address bullying and schools must make clear in their code of behaviour that bullying is unacceptable.
Compliance by schools with this requirement is inspected by Department of Education Inspectorate during Whole School Evaluations.
In conclusion, my Department is committed to the fight against bullying and we will work with other Departments, childcare services, education welfare services and the youth sector to raise awareness about bullying, its impact on children and young people and the measures to be taken to tackle prejudice, combat bullying and promote a safer environment for our young people.