Minister Foley announces publication of Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD today launches Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying. This landmark new Action Plan is dedicated to the prevention and addressing of bullying, cyber bullying, racism, gender identity bullying or sexual harassment, among other areas, in schools.

This Action Plan has been developed by the Department of Education in collaboration with a diverse and dedicated Steering Committee led by Dr Noel Purdy of Stranmillis University College in Belfast. Cineáltas has been informed by the views of children and young people, parents, school staff, education partners and individual members of the public and succeeds in placing the students at the very heart of the plan.

Cineáltas builds on the achievements and ambition of the previous Action Plan on Bullying published in 2013, taking into account the work undertaken in recent years to ensure that our schools are safe and happy places for all our children and young people.

Some of the key actions form the plan include:

Development of a national database to enable the publication of an annual national report on bullying in schools
Ensuring that student teachers and all school staff have the knowledge and skills to effectively prevent and address bullying
Development of a recognition process, such as a Cineáltas flag, for schools who engage in measures to prevent and address bullying
Piloting a programme of counselling supports for primary schools
Developing guidance for the establishment of a Student Support Team model in larger primary schools
Establishing a dedicated unit in the Department of Education to promote the voice of children and young people and to ensure that they have meaningful input into the development of Department policy
The progression of the Charter Bill and the development of Charter Guidelines that will strengthen the voice and participation of children and young people and their parents in the development and implementation of school policies

The implementation of the actions in this Action Plan will greatly enhance and compliment the work that schools already do to ensure that all the children and young people are kept safe from harm and that the wellbeing of children and young people is at the forefront of everything.

Minister Foley said: “Our schools are vibrant, innovative and most importantly inclusive places of learning, but for some children and young people bullying is an unacceptable reality.

“Cineáltas is practical, inclusive and contains a broad range of actions which help us all to work together towards a diverse, inclusive Irish society free from bullying in all its forms and where individual difference is valued and celebrated. Our vision is to provide schools with the tools necessary to target and tackle cyber bullying, racism, gender identity bullying or sexual harassment, among other areas.

“The implementation of the actions in this Action Plan will greatly enhance the work that we already do to ensure that all the children and young people who attend our schools are kept safe from harm and that the wellbeing of our children and young people is at the forefront of everything that we do.

“I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all those who played a role in the consultation process and in particular those involved in the Steering Committee who have ensured that this plan incorporates each of the nine components of the UNESCO Whole Education Approach. I also want to thank the many, many children and young people who contributed so effectively to this consultation process, and whose voices have been heard in the development of this plan.”

Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying is rooted in the following four key principles:

Prevention: Through the generation of empathy and the provision of training which provides a foundation for knowledge, respect, equality and inclusion

Support: Tangible and targeted supports based on a continuum of needs which provide a framework for school communities to work together

Oversight: Visible leadership creates positive environments for children and young people and all members of our school community

Community: Building inclusive school communities that are connected to society, and that support and nurture positive relationships and partnerships

The development of Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying has been informed by an extensive consultation process.

Over 50 presentations were made to the steering committee
Over 4,600 responses were received to the public consultation questionnaire
78 submissions were received to the public request for submissions
41 school staff and board of management members participated in school focus groups
170 children and young people were consulted including children with special educational needs, Traveller and Roma children, children from Ukraine and refugees.