Bí Cinealta Antibullying Procedures and Policy

updated 18th March 2026

Bí Cineálta, Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post­Primary Schools was published by the Department of Education in 2014 and replaced the 2013 Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. They apply to all recognised primary and post ­primary schools and to centres for education, as defined in the Education Act 1998, which are attended by students under the age of 18 years.

These procedures provide direction and guidance to schools, in relation to measures to prevent and address bullying behaviour in schools. They have been developed with the four key principles of Cineáltas in mind: prevention; support; oversight and community.

Each school is required to develop and implement a Bí Cineálta policy that sets out how the school community prevents and addresses bullying behaviour. Schools should work in partnership with their patron, board of management, staff, students and their parents to develop and implement their Bí Cineálta policy. The Procedures, in Appendix A, provide a template policy to be followed in developing your school Bí Cineálta Policy.

The Board of Management is responsible for implementing the Bí Cineálta Policy by ensuring a safe school environment, adopting the policy formally, and overseeing its implementation and review.

Board Meetings

At each meeting of the board of management the principal must present an update on the number of incidents of bullying behaviour and the measures taken to prevent and address bullying behaviour. The purpose of the update is to inform discussion at board level on the effectiveness of the measures that the school is taking to prevent and address bullying behaviour and the effectiveness of the school’s Bí Cineálta Policy. The update must include the following:

  • the number of incidents of bullying behaviour that have been reported since the last meeting

  • the number of incidents of bullying behaviour that are currently ongoing

  • the number of incidents of bullying behaviour that have been reported since the beginning of the school year

Oversight

The Board of Management must adopt a policy to prevent and address bullying behaviour and ensure this policy fully complies with the requirements of Bí Cineálta.

  • The principal will present an update on bullying behaviour at each board of management meeting.

  • The Board of Management must undertake an annual (calendar) review of the school’s Bí Cineálta policy and its implementation in consultation with the school community.

  • The school community must be given notice that the annual review has taken place.

(Bí Cineálta - Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post Primary Schools.)

The Department of Education and Youth have a very good resource section on their website which is of benefit to all school communities:

Bí Cineálta Resources for Primary Schools, Post Primary Schools and Parents