Country · UK & Ireland
Ireland: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: Schools must have anti-bullying rules, and those rules cover online bullying. A regulator can order harmful posts taken down. Serious online abuse can be a crime.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
Country
Ireland
Bí Cineálta policy in every school; primary smartphone ban; Coco's Law.
Compare with anywhere elseProtection score
One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.
- Yes:
Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?
Yes. Every school must have a Bí Cineálta ("Be kind") policy to prevent and address bullying, reviewed every year.
Legal detail and sources
Bí Cineálta Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (published 19 June 2024, Circular 55/2024), in effect from September 2025. They replace the 2013 procedures and come from the Cineáltas Action Plan on Bullying (2022).
- Yes:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Yes. Bullying is defined as targeted behaviour, online or offline, that causes harm.
Legal detail and sources
The procedures cover cyberbullying, gender identity bullying, racist and sexist bullying and sexual harassment.
- Yes:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
Yes. Coimisiún na Meán, the media regulator, enforces a binding Online Safety Code for video platforms based in Ireland.
Legal detail and sources
Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 set up Coimisiún na Meán. Its Online Safety Code was adopted in October 2024; the age-assurance rules took effect 21 July 2025. As EU Digital Services Coordinator it also enforces the Digital Services Act.
- Partly:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
No ban. Children can consent to apps using their data from age 16. Adult video content requires age checks.
Legal detail and sources
Data Protection Act 2018 s31 sets the digital age of consent at 16.
- Yes:
What are the rules on phones at school?
Primary schools must ban smartphones; post-primary schools must restrict them all day.
Legal detail and sources
Department guidance issued June 2025, with €9 million for phone pouches and lockers (Circulars 0044, 0045 and 0046 of 2025).
- Yes:
When is online abuse a crime?
Yes. Coco's Law makes serious online harassment and sharing intimate images without consent a crime.
Legal detail and sources
Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 (Coco's Law). It created offences for distributing or threatening to distribute intimate images without consent and extended harassment to cover any form of communication, including online.
- Yes:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Yes. Teachers have free cyberbullying courses and Bí Cineálta training.
Legal detail and sources
Oide runs online courses on cyberbullying in primary and post-primary schools.
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