Training courses could be set up for parents of schoolchildren in Ireland in a bid to tackle cyberbullying.

The recommendation forms part of a new national action plan on bullying and Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn has given the proposal the green light, the Irish Independent reports.

It is hoped the courses will result in parents becoming better equipped to spot whether or not their children are being victimised online, although an implementation group is to decide if the training will be extended to all mums and dads of schoolchildren throughout Ireland.

Mr Quinn - who is also TD for the Dublin South East constituency - explained many parents may not be overly familiar with cyberbullying, as their teenage years did not feature mobile phones or other forms of electronic media such as social networking.

"Unless they are exposed to this, they won't be aware of the potential for cyberbullying that is out there," he added.

Written by Donal Walsh

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