Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan and Monaghan, Brendan Smith has welcomed news that the Minister for Education and party colleague, Norma Foley, has brought a memo to Cabinet on new measures being undertaken by her Department to tackle bullying in school.
Deputy Brendan Smith commented, “In recent years, research and development has been undertaken internationally regarding tackling the scourge of bullying since the last Action Plan on Bullying was published in January 2013.
“The Minister for Education has stated that her Department will carry out a review of the Action Plan on Bullying and the Anti-bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2013.
“This review 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.”
The Cavan and Monaghan TD added: “The review of the Action Plan will reflect the significant developments and relevant research since 2013, specifically in relation to the areas of cyber bullying and gender identity bullying.
“The action plan needs to encompass 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 give detailed consideration to the recommendations contained in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Report on School Bullying and the Impact on Mental Health which was published in August 2021.
The review will also involve significant consultation and collaboration across the 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.