Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin's question about the €2.5 million provided in the budget for early intervention programmes, a lot of the preliminary work has been done in the rolling out of these projects and a project team will meet next Friday to take it further. There has been some engagement with philanthropic organisations because we have been looking for co-funding. I hope the scheme will develop next year with more funding provided.

It is important clear and transparent criteria are put in place for the selection of sites. This is part of what the interdepartmental group will examine and I will inform the House as the work develops. I certainly want to have the projects in place by the end of the 2013, with the sites selected by then. We will also look at how we can mainstream some of what has been learned from the three Prevention and Early Intervention Programme for Children projects under way. The research findings are being received on their successes and there are clear indications as to how we should move forward nationwide, not just in six areas. I hope we will be able to develop projects in three new areas and, equally, roll out initiatives which will have a national impact from what we have learned from the projects in Darndale, Tallaght and Ballymun which received considerable funding. The areas have not yet been selected, but transparent criteria will be used in their selection based on the poverty index and other indices.

Ring-fencing funding for more specialist youth cafés can certainly be considered and I would be happy to consider a specific request for such a youth café. The approach to date has been to support the integration of children with disabilities in youth cafés. That is preferable, but if a case can be made for a particular facility that meets the needs of a particular group of young people with either physical or intellectual disabilities, it can be considered.

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