Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to meet tomorrow to resume its examination of School Bullying and the Impact on Mental Health

This will be a roundtable discussion with advocacy organisations and those who teach young people online skills, and is the second of a series of committee meetings which will see relevant stakeholders  come before the committee through to the beginning of July.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, Committee Chair, Paul Kehoe TD, said: “Last Tuesday we had Psychologists/ Psychotherapists in child and youth mental health and the Ombudsman for Children before our committee to begin our scrutiny of this most serious of topics.. This week traditional bullying but also digital safety and cyberbullying will be explored with organisations that advocate for young people but also experts that equip young people and adults with the skills to use the internet safely, and make young people stronger as they negotiate the online world.”

Tomorrow’s meeting will be streamed live on Oireachtas TV and begins at 3.30pm in Committee Room 3, with the following witnesses appearing.

·         Barnardos

·         Children's Rights Alliance

·         Cybersafe Kids

·         Inclusion Ireland

·         Webwise  

Chair Kehoe added: “The obvious dedication and commitment to assisting young people from our witnesses is evident, yet bullying remains a very real issue that affects many people, last week we heard that approximately 80% of the children who have attended one child psychotherapist had experienced bullying. The culture and ethos in schools is paramount but so, too, is having the confidence and courage to come forward and equipping young people and adults with the skills and insight to overcome the challenges of bullying. We look forward to their perspectives.”  

For more information about the work of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science see the Committee webpage