Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Deputies Kathleen Funchion and Jan O'Sullivan asked about ABC funding. This initiative was an innovative and important programme introduced by the last Government under the leadership of Deputy Jan O'Sullivan and her colleagues in order to continue the Department's work on area-based approaches to combating and reducing child poverty. I have had a particular interest in it since assuming this position. One of the first things put in front of me as Minister was related to funding to ensure its ongoing sustainability as we looked at ways to support the area-based approach, as well as mainstreaming the learning from it. In terms of finding money to do that in 2017 and given the projections for 2017 and the significant increase in funding identified by the Deputies, we are talking with Pobal about all of the sites with the hope of extending programmes to the end of the year. That is what we are examining. A number of sites have programmes based on the academic year and, as such, the next challenge is the funding required to mid-2018. Overall, I want to ensure no site will have to close suddenly. In addition, we are doing the work with a focus on mainstreaming. My personal commitment and discussions in the Department relate to enabling that sustainability as much as possible on the existing sites, while working with the challenge of mainstreaming the learning from operations in the past few years.

I was asked about the funding of the new affordable child care scheme. To answer in general terms, the funding we were able to get in 2017 is being identified for the roll-out of the scheme from September. There are moneys available to the extent that we can anticipate the level of demand in the light of the new scheme. We had discussions earlier about what would happen in September and the fact that the fully automated scheme might not be available in the way we had anticipated and hoped for. However, we are committed to it. I will come back to the committee within a short time on the issue of ensuring the moneys will be available for parents to benefit additionally in accordance with the objectives of the scheme. Our intention is that it will happen.

I was asked about youth services and money. Deputy Anne Rabbitte did not refer exactly to the question, but we will come back to its content. I can say that, as the Deputy is probably aware, the overall b0udget of €60 million includes nearly €57.5 million in current funding and €3 million in capital funding, which represents an increase of €5.5 million on the allocation for 2016. Is the question where the money is going?