To ask the Minister of Education what research his Department has commissioned on the impact of current intervention and prevention strategies for bullying in schools since 2016.

The Department’s last research study on bullying type behaviour in our schools was completed in 2011.

I recognise that it would be beneficial to commission a new study in order to:

gather up-to-date data on the nature and prevalence of bullying type behaviour;

baseline the impact of the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act (NI) 2016;

gather evidence on the profile of pupils involved in bullying type behaviour;

quantify the impact, identify challenges and emerging issues in relation to bullying type behaviour; and

highlight best practice in addressing bullying type behaviour in schools.

I will consider the scope to commission this research within the context of the Department’s final budget allocation for this financial year.