Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A question was asked about the area-based childhood, ABC, programme. We are contractually committed to all of the ABC programme sites until June 2017, and we will fund accordingly. I am seeking money in the budget for a continuation of the programmes until the end of 2017. I am also going to examine closely the results of the evaluations. Evaluations of the ABC programmes are under way with a view to making decision for the future. I will bring proposals to Government on how best to main-stream the learning in terms of the models of the ABC programmes. Again, it is a matter of investment, the amounts of money available and whether that also could mean an extension of those particular programmes.

We addressed one of the questions raised by Senator Devine on the disability underspend. I do not mind if Deputy Rabbitte comes back in because I know this is a key issue.