Simon Coveney
Ceist:115 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the action he will take to prevent the harassment and bullying of school students due to issues of sexuality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26565/03]
Written Answers. - Bullying in Schools.
I take the issue of harassment and bullying in schools, in all of its forms, seriously. My Department and I are strongly committed to removing all barriers to full participation in education, including barriers caused by the sexual orientation of students.
Recent education legislation and equality legislation have among their key objectives the promotion of equality of access to and participation in education and the prevention of discrimination. Earlier this year the NESF in its report, Equality Policies for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People: Implementation Issues, acknowledged that Ireland has now one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination codes in Europe.
However, I am conscious that more needs to be done in schools and colleges to meet the specific concerns relating to harassment and bullying of students on grounds of sexual orientation. As part of my Department's ongoing response to this issue, last month it published a pamphlet, Schools and the Equal Status Act. This outlines the main features of equality legislation as they affect primary and second level schools and identifies ways in which equality legislation can be used as building blocks for the creation of the inclusive school.
In addition a number of programmes and guidelines drawn up or published by my Department or the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment address diversity and equality from different perspectives, including sexual orientation. Recommendations for further action have also been made in reports by the Equality Authority – Implementing Equality for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals, and the NESF – Equality Policies for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People: Implementation Issues. I have welcomed these recommendations and my Department is actively considering them in consultation with representatives of the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities.