Introduction

Speak Out Tool

Speak Out, Higher Education Authority (HEA)-funded and based at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), is an anonymous online reporting tool introduced at 17 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ireland to enhance safety for students and staff. It allows for anonymous disclosure of bullying, harassment, assault and sexual violence incidents, and provides access to comprehensive lists of local and national support services. It is one of the range of reporting options available in HEIs. 

National Data Report

The first Speak Out National Data Report was launched at TCD on 4 November 2025. Representatives from HEA, the Department of Education and all participating HEIs were in attendance.

Key data from 16 HEIs between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2024 include:

• 1,011 individuals (636 were students and 303 were staff) made anonymous reports through the Speak Out tool.
• The most common behaviours experienced were bullying (382 reports) and harassment (340).
• Sexual violence and sexual harassment accounted for 25% of behaviours disclosed by students.
• 20% of staff and 12% of students made a formal complaint to their HEI about the abuse.
• 4% of students made a formal complaint to An Garda Síochána about the abuse.
• Common reasons for not reporting the incident to the HEI include the fear that nothing would be done or a lack of proof that the behaviour took place.  
•  Common reasons for not reporting to the Gardaí included a sense that the behaviour was not serious enough, or that proof was lacking.  

The report should not be read as reflecting the true prevalence of the reported behaviours.

HEIs exist within the broader cultural and societal context, and as such, many of the issues reported are reflective of the broader experiences of those living within Ireland.

Speaking about the launch of the report, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless said: “I commend our universities and colleges, and the Higher Education Authority, for taking meaningful steps to make higher education a safer place for students and staff. By tracking harmful behaviours and abuse in this way, we’re building a clearer picture of the challenges and laying the groundwork for stronger, more informed responses. There must be zero tolerance for abuse on our campuses. What this report highlights is the urgent need to break the culture of silence around these difficult and traumatising experiences, and to ensure students and staff feel safe and supported when they come forward.”

Elaine Mears, Coordinator at the Speak Out National Office, said: “Tackling abuse requires a whole-of-society response which will take time, commitment, and resourcing. The higher education sector is stepping up to this challenge because we have a responsibility to our students and staff to be leaders in this cultural change. The resourcing of the Speak Out National Office and 16 new posts in HEIs dedicated to preventing and responding to sexual violence demonstrates a commitment from the HEA to working collaboratively to achieve this aim.”

Dr Avril Hutch, UCC Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), said: "The Speak Out anonymous online reporting tool is an important resource for University College Cork (UCC) students and staff. It provides an opportunity to direct students and staff to helpful support and information related to incidents of discrimination, bullying, harassment, and/or sexual misconduct. It also helps to inform related policies and procedures in the University.”

Next steps

The dataset will be used to inform future responses to abuse and harassment in higher education, and to encourage formal reporting.

Speak Out at UCC

The UCC Speak Out website provides details on the tool, instructions on how to make an anonymous report, and a data privacy statement. Reporting anonymously means that you will not be asked for your name or any other personal details about you or another person that might identify you. The University will not take specific action or commence any formal complaint process following the report via Speak Out.   

For more information on relevant policies and supports, please visit: 

• Duty of Respect and Right to Dignity at Work Policy (2020) 
• Student Rules  
• UCC Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment (ESVH) Hub 
• UCC Sexual Violence and Harassment Framework 
• UCC Sexual Violence Framework Action Plan 2021 

Please email the ediunit@ucc.ie in confidence if you have any questions about the Speak Out Tool or the national data report.