Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2018
65. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he remains satisfied that adequate steps have been taken to prevent school bullying with particular reference to the use of social media in the classroom or outside and on or off school precincts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42101/18]
View answerThe Action Plan on Bullying published in 2013, sets out my Department's approach to tackling bullying in schools. These actions focus on support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, are addressed. As part of the implementation of the Action Plan, anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools, including a specific reference to cyberbullying, were published in September 2013.
These procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to all schools to prevent and tackle school-based bullying behaviour and to deal with the negative impact of bullying behaviour that occurs elsewhere. They include specific requirements in relation to the use of prevention and education strategies and the consistent investigation, follow up and recording of bullying behaviour.
Awareness on internet safety for schools is carried out by the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST- Technology in Education) in partnership with the Safer Internet Ireland Project. Webwise, an internet safety initiative co-funded by my Department and operated by the PDST Technology in Education, promotes the autonomous, effective, and safer use of the internet by young people through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting parents, teachers, and children themselves with consistent and relevant messages including guidance on acceptable usage in schools.
Since 2013 a range of new resources have been developed by Webwise including “UP2US”, “My Selfie and the wider world” and “Lockers”. In 2017 the online Parenting Hub: Webwise Parents was launched; In 2018 the ‘Be in Ctrl’ resource, was launched to support teachers to address the topic of online sexual coercion and extortion with their students. The PDST Technology in Education also provide CPD and resources that help teachers integrate the safe and ethical use of the internet into teaching and learning in their schools.
