Schools in Ireland have called for social networks to introduce staff members dedicated to dealing with cyberbullying.

The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) would like to see Facebook and similar sites appointing people who will be able to take calls from schools and parents in an attempt to combat the problem.

Such calls come after second-level school principals expressed frustration regarding the amount of time it takes websites of this type to respond to requests to remove abusive posts directed at pupils.

Clive Byrne, director of the NAPD, said: "Social networks ought to have a dedicated liaison officer whose job it is to take calls from schools and parents and act promptly in deleting offensive posts."

A poll conducted by the group - which was inaugurated in 1998 and is the professional association for second level school leaders in Ireland - showed 81 per cent of survey respondents believe the seriousness of the consequences related to cyberbullying and traditional bullying are the same.

Written by Donal Walsh

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