Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
257. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the level of engagement her Department has had with primary and secondary schools, respectively with regard to gender identity bullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15583/22]
View answer258. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the level of engagement her Department has had with primary and secondary schools, respectively with regard to cyberbullying and cyber-harassment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15584/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 257 together.
The Deputy may be aware that I recently established a Steering Committee for the review of the 2013 Action Plan on Bullying and this Committee who have already met on two occasions.
This Steering Committee is chaired externally by Dr. Noel Purdy of Stranmillis University College in Antrim and will ensure that the new Action Plan on bullying is in line with up-to-date research and is a comprehensive and holistic, national educational response.It will also ensure that the action plan encompasses all the related initiatives that have progressed outside of the original actions in the plan, as well as giving consideration to additional actions which are required.
The review will involve significant consultation and collaboration across my Department, with other Government Departments and Bodies including the Ombudsman for Children, and will also involve consultation with a broad range of education stakeholders, including parents and students, school management bodies and teacher and school staff unions and is expected to conclude its work within a six month period.
The Anti-bullying procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools will also be reviewed and updated in parallel with this work. I have also established a separate Working Group to undertake this work which consist of representatives from a broad range of organisations including representatives from the Teacher’s Unions, the patron Bodies and the Management bodies and the Irish Second level Students’ Union.
There are currently extensive training and curricular supports, including through the Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and the Webwise Programme, to assist schools in the development of policies and practices on the safe use of the internet and on the prevention of bullying including cyber-bullying.
The PDST and its Webwise team have developed dedicated resources for teachers, parents, children and young people which gives practical information and advice on the safe, ethical and responsible use of the internet and addresses key issues such as cyberbullying, sexting, image sharing, respectful communication, social media, popular apps and more. The Webwise resources are available at www.webwise.ie.
My Department further supports the “Stand Up! campaign in post primary schools to prevent and tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools provided by the to BeLonG To Youth Services
The 2019 Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice acknowledges that schools provide opportunities to develop friendships and to respectfully encounter diversity and access support structures. NEPS psychologists are available to support LGBTI+ students in schools including sign posting to appropriate supports and services.
In addition, the Inspectorate from my Department is engaging with schools and Principals in relation to how they implement aspects of the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-primary schools and how they promote a positive school culture and climate that prevents and tackles bullying. The goal of these inspections is to affirm good practice and to raise awareness among all schools visited of the importance of preventing and dealing with different types of bullying, including cyber bullying and gender identity bullying.
A report on the findings of the Inspectorate’s monitoring of anti-bullying conducted in over 500 schools between September and November 2020 is being prepared.
