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

I can only agree with Deputy Ó Snodaigh that this type of early intervention project yields great results. There is no question of that. It could prevent young children going into care if the right support is available for families and parents. This is one of the reasons the Government has committed €30 million for the area-based childhood, ABC, programmes which are similar to the NEYAI programmes. I will ask the local children's services committee to give me a report on the project and the continuity issues that arise in respect of the families.

I will also see how much information we have on the 11 projects nationally and the funding implications for same. Clearly, they were pilot projects, but they merit an examination in terms of whether continuity is possible. The local children's services committees are the first place I will do so. I will undertake that and revert to the Deputy.

See this speech in context