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Bullying in Schools

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Questions (436)

Tom Fleming

Question:

436. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the initiatives he has introduced to tackle cyber bullying in all schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16751/13]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is probably aware, on 29th of January last, Minister Fitzgerald and I published the Action Plan on Bullying which sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. I have ring-fenced €500,000 to support implementation of these actions this year.

As part of the Action Plan, new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and second level schools are currently in development in consultation with the education partners. These new procedures will include a specific reference to cyber bullying. These will be issued to all schools at the beginning of the next school year.

Since the Action Plan was launched, the Department of Education and Skills has also supported an awareness raising initiative specifically targeted at young people on the topic of cyber bullying. This campaign was launched as part of Safer Internet Day in February.

Central to promoting safer use of the Internet by young people is a strong commitment to changing behaviour and raising the knowledge, skills and attitudes around preventing, responding to and reporting cyber bullying incidents. Implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying will increase capacity in these areas and build on my Department's current strategy to ensure that internet safety is mainstreamed throughout the school's teaching, learning and other practices. Resources are available on www.webwise.ie and include guidelines on developing Acceptable Use Policies.

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