I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 104 and 108 together.
I was very pleased to recently publish new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools. These new procedures have been developed following consultation with the relevant education partners and replace guidelines that were issued to schools in 1993.
The procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. They place a strong focus on education and prevention strategies to deal with bullying behaviour including, in particular, cyberbullying and identity based bullying such as homophobic and transphobic bullying. School authorities and school personnel are required to adhere to these procedures in dealing with allegations and incidents of bullying.
In accordance with my Department's circular 045/2013, all schools are required to immediately commence the necessary arrangements for developing and formally adopting an anti-bullying policy that fully complies with the requirements of the new procedures. This is expected to be completed by each school as early as possible in the 2013/14 school year but in any event by no later than the end of the second term of the 2013/14 school year.Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, all schools must have a code of behaviour which has been drawn up in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Education Welfare Board. These NEWB guidelines specifically require all schools to have an anti-bullying policy within the framework of their overall code of behaviour. The new anti-bullying procedures are underpinned by this legal framework.