Dear Principal,
As you may be aware, the Department of Education has commenced work to review the Action Plan on Bullying and the Anti-bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-primary Schools.
The review will take account of the significant developments and relevant research since the Action Plan and Anti-bullying Procedures were published in 2013. It will also specifically consider cyber bullying, identity bullying and sexual harassment, among other areas.
The Department have been planning and organising as broad and inclusive a consultation process as possible as we believe it is of upmost importance that this work is informed by the views of all members of society.
A key component of the consultation process is a public consultation where written submissions can be made and an online questionnaire can be completed. These submissions will help ensure that our work to prevent and tackle bullying in our schools will be informed by the views of as many children and young people, parents, school staff, education partners and individual members of the public as possible.
This consultation process will open on Thursday 26 May 2022 and will remain open until Tuesday 21 June 2022.
We would like to invite you to participate in this consultation process and we would be grateful if you could also encourage school staff, parents, students and other members of your school community to also participate.
The consultation can be accessed on www.gov.ie/schools-anti-bullying-plan-review/
You may wish to consider using the paragraphs below in communications with parents or other stakeholders. We will revert in the new school year with further information, to keep you updated on this work. We look forward to hearing the views of your school community.
Thank you for your support as we continue with this important work.
Yours sincerely,
Judith Lyons
Principal Officer
Parents and Learners Unit
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The Department of Education is currently reviewing the Action Plan on Bullying and the Anti-bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-primary Schools. As part of this work the Department is seeking your views about what should be done to prevent and tackle bullying in our schools.
The Department is inviting you to make written submissions and to complete a short questionnaire as part of the public consultation process. The consultation can be accessed on www.gov.ie/schools-anti-bullying-plan-review/ . The closing date for receipt of submissions is Tuesday 21 June 2022.