The head of the Department of Education at Trinity College Dublin has strongly criticised the Department of Education for failing to introduce a programme that could cut bullying in schools by as much as a half.
The innovative anti-bullying programme, developed by TCD, was due to begin in approximately 140 primary and post-primary schools here over the coming weeks.
A pilot version in Donegal led to a 50 per cent drop in the number of children who reported being bullied in 22 primary schools, and a decrease of nearly 70 per cent in the number of children who said they had taken part in bullying.
Although approximately 30 teachers have been trained, at no cost to the Department, it has so far refused to provide the funding for the programme to be extended.
This is understood to be in part because it may involve closures of the schools in question for in-service training.
The National Parents' Council (Post Primary) has also criticised the Department's decision not to fund the programme.
Its head, Ms Eleanor Petrie, said she was "disappointed not to see something which could be of benefit to parents and children alike" introduced in schools here.
Prof Mona O'Moore, head of the Department of Education at TCD, visited the constituency clinic of the Minister for Education and Science, Ms Hanafin, last Monday, to indicate her frustration at the Department's refusal to fund the programme, as well as an accompanying video.
The total cost of this is estimated to be in the region of €50,000.
The programme is now being used by the Norwegian government, although it was developed for introduction here.
"They are jeopardising the programme if it is not introduced in the next few weeks," Prof O'Moore said.
However, a Department spokeswoman said the programme was under consideration "in the context of the implications for the school year, in relation to school closures over and above those days already scheduled for in-service training".