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Bullying in Schools

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Questions (94, 104, 108)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

94. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has contacted each board of management to see if they have complied with circular 045/2013; and the number of schools which have not complied with this circular. [42197/13]

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Michael McGrath

Question:

104. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide detail of the anti-bullying initiative he announced last month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42242/13]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

108. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to place circular 045/2013 on a statutory footing; and the consequences for boards of management if they do not comply with this circular. [42196/13]

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Written answers

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.

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