Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2018
276. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will promote a public awareness campaign targeting parents and children and young persons regarding the importance of digital citizenship and online safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14035/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for teaching and learning in schools. In this regard, there is a prescribed curriculum in place that covers a broad range of learning needs including the use of technologies and wellbeing.
My Department has a broad suite of policies to support the safe and appropriate use of digital technologies in schools. For example, the SPHE curriculum at primary level contains a strand on Media Education, and as with all curriculum content, teachers are enabled to mediate this to children. The PDST (Technology in Education) is a dedicated team established and funded by the Department to advise and support schools in the area of digital technologies, including issues of internet safety. Schools are advised on the following matters: the development and implementation of an Acceptable Usage Policy (governing the use of the internet in schools); the promotion of awareness regarding safety online; and the implementation of a content filtering/monitoring system.
Through the Webwise Internet Safety Initiative which is funded by my department, resources are also provided to support teachers to integrate internet safety into teaching and learning in their schools. Webwise also provide information, advice, and tools to parents to support their engagement in their children’s online lives. With the help of the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel they develop youth oriented awareness raising resources and campaigns that address topics such as social networking, sexting, cyber bullying.
The Webwise Initiative is part of the Safer Internet Ireland Project coordinated by the Office for Internet Safety (an Executive Office of the Department of Justice & Equality) to develop national initiatives promoting the safer use of electronic media and enhance protection of the vulnerable, particularly children, against the downside of the internet. The project is a consortium of industry, education, child welfare and government partners that provide Safer Internet awareness, hotline and helpline functions and activities. Webwise 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.
In 2017 alone there were in excess of 618,000 recorded users of the website (webwise.ie) with a total of 921,000 page views. Supporting resource booklets are free to order or download from Webwise.ie.
There are no plans for a public campaign at this time. My Department collaborates with a number of Departments with responsibility in this area. The Department of Justice and Equality has the lead role in coordinating Government policy concerning internet safety, through the Office for Internet Safety. The Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education & Skills all have key roles.
