Internet safety a priority - Ruane

Safeguarding and protecting children is a top priority for the Department of Education.

That was the message from the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, during an assembly motion on the recommendations of the Byron Review.

The Minister said: “We cannot afford to be complacent about any of the risks to children, particularly those presented by new technologies. Both schools and parents have a responsibility to monitor and review what children are accessing online. The internet is like bringing a city into your living room - if an activity is not acceptable in your house, then it is not acceptable online.”

The Byron Review was published in 2008 to help parents and their children get the best from new technologies whilst protecting children from inappropriate or harmful material.

The Department of Education is represented on the new Council for Child Internet Safety's 'Better Education' sub group. As a member of this and other groups, the Department will be actively engaged in any developments and in a position to assess their appropriateness for application in the north of Ireland. This assessment will also include consideration of the North-South dimension to internet safety and ensuring compatibility with any developments emerging from the North-South Ministerial Council's Internet Safety Sub-group.

There are a number of developments and actions already in place in the north.

The Minister continued: “Through the Revised Curriculum, teachers receive training and guidance on how to integrate teaching about internet safety and online communication. If we can equip our young people with the skills they need to recognise dangerous or inappropriate situations and how to deal with them, then we are helping them develop into confident individuals.

"Ensuring our systems for safeguarding children are the most robust possible means we must be prepared to consider all proposals for improvement. The Byron recommendations must be given consideration and my Department will play a full part in implementing any actions which are appropriate for our pupils and schools."

Notes to Editors:

1. Media queries, contact the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9701. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via page number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.