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

Absolutely. I would welcome the committee revisiting that issue with me. The Deputy will know that I have the same commitment she has identified. There are some in my constituency also. In fact, I started one. I understand it from the inside and these are the conversations I have been having in the Department. There is a challenge with the exit of Atlantic Philanthropies, but there is extraordinary work ongoing on those sites. Part of the rationale from a policy perspective for supporting the extension of funding to the end of 2017 is that the evaluation of the programmes will not be ready until late 2017 or early 2018. That is important.

We want to ensure we have that and what is going on is fed into the evaluation. That evaluation will be really critical in building the arguments not just in unpacking or closing up what has been done but in focusing on the mainstreaming of lessons learned. That relates to another initiative on which we are spending a significant sum of money and I am fully committed to the mainstreaming and development of data hubs and mentoring to ensure ongoing quality. This is all part of the capacity-building initiative and it is what is going on throughout the world where the best and most progressive governments are looking to ensure that all the programmes provided to children are done in the best possible way. My personal view is that this should not replace the provision from an area-based perspective that is going on. This will be very challenging as much money has gone into those programmes and we do not have a funder to couple that. I have a personal commitment to it, as does Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.