The number of children contacting the Childline telephone service to complain about bullying has increased by more than a third in the first six months of this year, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) has revealed.
As thousands of children around the country prepare to return to school this week, Childline says bullying is now the sixth most cited reason for children contacting its free phone service.
During the first six months of this year, 1,722 children, mainly aged between 12 and 16, telephoned the helpline to discuss their concerns about bullying. This compares with a total of 1,264 during the same period in 2003, when bullying was the eighth most common reason for children to contact the service.
Ms Áine Lynch, manager of Childline, said there were a number of reasons for the increase in the numbers contacting the ISPCC. "It could be something as simple as the fact that schools are more aware of bullying - it is talked about more - or it could be to do with the fact that instances of bullying are rising."
She said callers to the helpline were concerned about a wide range of types of bullying, including bullying in school, among their peer group, by teachers, and in the home.
But it was important that children be helped to develop coping skills, regardless of the type of bullying they experienced, Ms Lynch added.
"Bullying happens in life continually for both adults and children. It is important to acknowledge the fact that it does happen in life...and the solutions have to come from children themselves. They are intrinsically involved in it."
The latest Childline figures for Ireland follow the release of similar statistics in the UK, which also revealed that a significant number of children were contacting the service there about bullying.
Ms Fionnuala Kilfeather, of the National Parents Council (primary), said bullying was a cause of "great concern" to parents. Schools did not always find it easy to tackle the issue, she said.
"Schools have to be very rigorous about implementing policies once they are there. Some schools are going to need outside help if it is very serious.
Mr John White, acting general secretary of the ASTI, said the issue of large class sizes was a significant factor in attempting to combat bullying in schools.