James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question.

The area based childhood, ABC, programme is an innovative prevention and early intervention initiative. It consists of committed funding for an area based approach to improve outcomes for children and thereby reduce child poverty. The programme builds on and continues the work of the Prevention and Early Intervention Programme 2007-2013, which was co-funded by my Department and Atlantic Philanthropies.

The ABC programme involves joint investment from my Department and Atlantic Philanthropies of €29.7 million in evidence-informed interventions to improve the long-term outcomes for children and families living in disadvantaged areas. It aims to break the cycle of child poverty within areas where it is most deeply entrenched and where children are most disadvantaged through integrated and effective services and interventions in the areas of child development, child well-being, parenting and educational disadvantage.

The ABC programme is time bound and the co-funding arrangement between the Government and Atlantic Philanthropies is in place until 2017. A key purpose of the ABC programme is to identify the learning in, and across, the ABC sites and to transfer this learning into existing and established services. Adopting such a systems focus, rather than merely a site or geographic specific focus, is the intention so that we can ensure a greater reach and sustained impact in services across the country. What I want to ensure is that, rather than creating parallel provision, the learning from this programme informs the ongoing reform of established services and supports for children and young people. Mainstreaming the learning in this way will bring improvements, not only in specific areas, but across the wider system, thereby addressing all areas of disadvantage. A task group has been established to explore how best to mainstream the learning where programmes and activities have proven more effective than existing provision.

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