Action plan on bullying welcomed

THE launch of Ireland’s first Action Plan on Bullying has been warmly welcomed on the Northside.

Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald launched the plan last week.

The plan sets out 12 actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools.

These proposed actions build on the excellent work that is already underway in many schools to prevent and tackle bullying.

The report makes it clear that preventing and tackling bullying requires support from parents and wider society and is not a problem schools can solve alone.

At the launch, Minister Quinn said he broadly accepted the proposed actions in the report. He has requested his officials to ensure that work on implementation begins immediately in consultation with teachers, parents and management bodies at first and second level.

He has ring-fenced

?¬500,000 to support the implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying in 2013.

Dublin Bay North, Terence Flanagan (FG) believes the plan will help to tackle the scourge of bullying in schools across Dublin.

“Bullying, whether is it online or in the school corridor, can have a very serious impact on children and young people,

? said Deputy Flanagan.

“Your confidence and self-belief can be shattered as a result of taunts and harassment from your peers.

“This can have a lasting impact well into adulthood, and it is something that we should all be working together to address.

?

Dublin Bay North TD Aodhán Ã? Ríordáin welcomed Minister Quinn’s decision to offer financial support to several anti-bullying initiatives, including Belong 2’s ‘Stand Up ‘ campaign.

“This demonstrates his commitment to making a serious and practical effort at targeting bullying and intimidation,

? he said.

“This plan is a step in the right direction at tackling what is a long term problem that is rotting the core of many of our schools.

?

Dublin North West TD John Lyons (Lab) said bullying in any form can be extremely damaging to young people in terms of their mental and physical health and educational attainment.

“Tragically, as we have seen recently, it can result in a young person taking their own life,

? he stated.

The plan is available to download at www.education.ie