Update: Monitoring Bullying Outside of School, 4th August 2015

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which her Department
continues to monitor bullying amongst children or teenagers while out of school
or on school holidays; if evaluation has been completed to determine the extent
to which incidents are on the increase; and if she will make a statement on the
matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.

There is no requirement that schools report incidents of bullying behaviour to
my Department.

However, the Deputy may be aware that my Department published new anti-bullying
procedures for all primary and post primary schools at the beginning of the
2013/14 school year.

The procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school
authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based
bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. They include specific requirements in
relation to the use of prevention and education strategies and the consistent
investigation, follow up and recording of bullying behaviour.

The procedures also recognise that parents and pupils have a role and
responsibility in helping the school to prevent and address school-based
bullying behaviour and to deal with any negative impact within school of
bullying behaviour that occurs elsewhere.

The procedures include important new oversight arrangements that involve the
school Principal reporting regularly to the Board of Management and a
requirement for the Board to undertake an annual review of the school’s anti-
bullying policy and its implementation. Confirmation that the annual review has
been completed must be provided to the Parents’ Association and published on
the school website.