This research, carried in today's Irish Independent, says bullies are most likely to be girls who are in the same year but in a different class to their victim.

17% of second level students say they have been the victims of bullying - and one in ten admitted carrying it out themselves.

A quarter of victims never tell anyone about what they are going through.

Cyber bullying usually goes on for one to two weeks and effects younger children more than older children.

The report comes following the deaths of a number of young girls in recent months - who took their own lives following claims of cyber bullying.