Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2013
103. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the work of his Department on tackling bullying; if he will outline the timetable for the delivery of the action plan from the Working Group on Bullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17887/13]
View answerOn Tuesday, 29 January 2013, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, and I published an Action Plan on Bullying which sets out 12 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. Officials from my Department have already commenced work on the implementation of the actions. In particular, an awareness raising initiative on cyber bullying targeted at young people is already underway and my Department is supporting the Stand Up! Awareness Week Against Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying in second level schools which took place in March. Work has also commenced on developing new anti-bullying procedures for schools in consultation with the school management bodies, teacher unions and national parents councils. These new procedures are due to issue to schools for the start of the next school year.
Bullying and mental health have been prioritised for teacher education summer courses in 2013. The National Disability Authority has commenced work on researching effective supports for children with physical disabilities and/or special educational needs. Preliminary work has commenced on other aspects of the Action Plan on Bullying. Implementation will continue in the coming months.
