Government aims to tackle school bullying

In April 2023, Minister Norma Foley TD launched the implementation plan for Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying; the Department of Education’s approach to preventing and addressing bullying in schools.

Launched in December 2022, Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying was developed by the Department of Education in collaboration with a steering committee led by Noel Purdy of Stranmillis University College, Belfast.

A report in 2018 by UNICEF, found that 44 per cent of Irish schoolchildren are bullied in school. The study found that male and female students are equally at risk of bullying, with female students more likely to be subjected to psychological forms of bullying, while male students are more likely to be at risk of physical violence and threats.

Since passage of the programme, the Department of Education has established a Student Participation Unit, which aims to promote the participation of children and young people in the development of department policy.

The Department has also established an expert group to advise decision-makers on how best the Student Participation Unit can progress its work. Laura Lundy, professor of education law and children’s rights at Queen’s University, who developed the Lundy Model of children’s participation, has been appointed as chair of this group.

The Government has set aside €5 million to pilot a programme of counselling supports for primary school students.

The Department further states that work to update the anti-bullying procedures for schools is underway with continuous professional development and training being developed for all school staff, board of management members and parents.

The implementation plan for Cineáltas commits to implementing each of the 61 actions contained in the original Cineáltas publication within a five-year period and sets out timeframes and information about how the Department is going to implement the actions

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD, who marked Anti-Bullying Week by issuing Cineáltas flags to all primary, post-primary, and special schools, said: “Cineáltas means kindness. Anti-Bullying Week is an important week in the school calendar where we can increase awareness about bullying behaviour and its impact on children and young people. We can also remind ourselves of the importance of kindness. All our schools are receiving their Cineáltas flags this week, during Anti-Bullying Week.”