James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct that there are 13 programmes and that they are co-funded by the Department and Atlantic Philanthropies. Much has been learned in this regard. The total amount of committed funding available in the period 2013 to 2016, inclusive, will be €29.7 million. As I stated, there are 13 sites involved in the area-based childhood programme and ten are now operationalising innovative programmes in their respective areas. The other three are expected to be operational early in 2015 as certain local issues have required increased engagement with Pobal prior to the finalisation of contracts.

Ongoing implementation and governance support is being provided by the Centre for Effective Services and Pobal for the area-based childhood services throughout the life cycle of the programme. Through providing this support, high fidelity and sustainable implementation of evidence informed services will be optimised. It is the intention of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to seek to mainstream the learning under the area-based childhood programme. The Department is in the process of considering how best this learning can be disseminated and replicated in mainstream services after 2016.