Nora Owen
Ceist:687 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the course of action his Department has taken following a complaint by persons (details supplied) in County Dublin in relation to bullying. [21294/98]
Written Answers. - Bullying in Schools.
The board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of primary schools. In 1993 my Department issued Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour to all primary and post-primary schools. The purpose of the guidelines was to assist schools in devising school based measures to prevent and deal with instances of bullying behaviour and to increase the awareness of the problem among school management, staff, pupils and parents. A further circular in 1994 reminded school authorities of their responsibility in formulating a written code of behaviour and discipline which should include specific measures to counter bullying behaviour.
My Department investigates specific complaints which involve an alleged breach of the rules for national schools, including bullying complaints, but only after every effort has been made to resolve the matter at local level.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, the comlaint received by my Department alleges bullying of the complainants' son by another pupil. When the matter was originally brought to my Department's attention, my officials replied to the child's parents by outlining the responsibilities of the board of management of the school in relation to bullying and discipline and setting out the Department's complaints procedure.
My officials subsequently received permission from the parents of the child to pursue the matter on their behalf with the board of management of the school.
A report has been received from the board of management and is being considered in my Department. In an effort to bring this matter to a conclusion, the local inspector has now been requested to interview the various parties involved, including the child's parents, and to submit a report on the matter.
It is expected that the investigation will be concluded on receipt of the inspector's report and the child's parents will be informed of the outcome at that stage. I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to conclude this matter as speedily as possible.