COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 10, 2012

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor D. Looney

That this Council asks the Library and Community Services Departments, along with other relevant sections of the Council, County Dublin VEC and other interested bodies, to seek to put in place a pilot project to deal with cyber and text bullying amongst children and young people. This pilot would be based in a suitable cluster involving at least one post-primary school, at least one primary school and at least one other relevant organisation such as a youth club or community group. The pilot would seek to utilise the County's Library Services in particular as information hubs to assist parents, schools, youth organisations and young people themselves in dealing with cyber and text bullying, with a view to being extended County-wide into the future.

REPORT:

South Dublin Libraries has been extremely active in the area of Internet and Internet Safety for Children. A number of lecture series have been held for parents dealing with all aspects of teenage life, for example:- depression, health and Cyber Safety. Each module was presented by a specialst in that field, the Cyber Safety module was delivered by the Office for Internet Safety. In addition to this a series of workshops in ICT skills for parents have taken place in the libraries with a particular empahsis on keeping children safe on the internet and through their interaction with Social Media.

We are supportive of all local and national initiatives such as the National Anti-Bullying Forum established by the Minister for Education and Minister for Children and Youth earlier this year. It is anticipated that the Forum will produce a report of their findings before the end of the year. The Council is also aware of the Children First Guidelines which recognise cyber bullying as a child protection issue.