Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013
122. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the work of his Department on tackling bullying; 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. [42144/13]
View answerMinister Fitzgerald and I published an Action Plan on Bullying on 29th January 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 the Action Plan this year. Work on the implementation of the actions is progressing well. Some weeks ago, I launched new National Procedures on Anti Bullying which will be adopted and implemented by all 4,000 primary and post primary schools.
I have also made available funding for anti-bullying training for parents which is being run jointly by the National Parents Council (primary and post primary). Earlier this year, an awareness raising initiative on cyber bullying targeted at young people took place and will continue in 2014. My Department supported the Stand Up! Awareness Week Against Homophobic & Transphobic Bullying in second level schools which took place in March. Two pieces of research suggested in the Plan around children with special needs and social media are also being progressed. Implementation of these and the other actions identified in the Plan is continuing.
