Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I could not agree more that it is not simply about the ABC programme, but about a much broader approach to the issues facing so many children. The ABC programme provides a range of services, addressing child development, child well-being, parenting, educational disadvantage and more. Therefore, it is important it is rolled out on a wider scale. However, this will require greater resources.

The current funding is time limited, because Atlantic Philanthropies is about to pull out. The Minister has said an evaluation is in progress. When will that evaluation be completed and when complete will it form part of the interdepartmental group's current study on the accessibility and affordability of child care? Will it feed into that? What are the Minister's plans in terms of ensuring prevention and early intervention measures are rolled out nationally in the future? The Minister is correct that it is about getting value for money. As I said earlier, when we consider that it costs between €300,000 and €350,000 to keep one child in detention facilities, the money spent on prevention and early intervention is money better spent.

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