Deputy Noel Coonan & Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald.
Speaking to Thurles.Info this morning North Tipperary Deputy Noel Coonan TD warmly welcomed this week’s publication of the new Action Plan on Bullying which sets out conduct necessary to prevent and tackle bullying at both primary and second level schools throughout County Tipperary and indeed nationwide.
“As part of the Budget in December, we secured €500,000 in funding to support the actions identified in this plan. This is the first time the Department of Education has had a ring-fenced budget for tackling issues related to bullying. This clear plan sets out 12 actions and 13 recommendations for further consideration. The report makes it clear that preventing and tackling bullying requires support from parents and the wider society in County Tipperary and is not a problem schools can solve alone. These measures are very welcome and will really help raise awareness about the impact of bullying and how this sensitive issue can be effectively combated,” stated Deputy Coonan.
“Among the 12 actions recommended by the working group, are proposals to support a media campaign focused on cyber bullying specifically targeted at young people as part of Safer Internet Day 2013, the establishment of a new national anti-bullying website and the creation of a co-ordinated plan of training for parents and for school boards of management,” continued Deputy Coonan.
“The plan will also review current Teacher Education Support Service provision to identify what training and Continuous Professional Development teachers may need to help them effectively tackle bullying.
Last year, the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn TD, and the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD, held an Anti-Bullying Forum, which invited submissions from interested parties and stakeholders. This has fed into the new Action Plan on Bullying which has the potential to make a real difference in how we tackle this problem in our schools,” concluded Deputy Coonan.
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