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

I mentioned a number of programmes in my response, one of which is the area-based childhood, ABC, programme. This programme is a prevention and early intervention initiative consisting of committed funding for an area-based approach to improving outcomes for children, young people and families and thereby contributing to addressing intergenerational child poverty. The ABC programme builds on the work of the prevention and early intervention programme from 2007 to 2013.

The ABC programme involves joint investment by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Atlantic Philanthropies of €29.7 million in evidence-informed interventions to improve outcomes for children. The ABC programme is time bound and the co-funding arrangement between the Government and Atlantic Philanthropies remains in place until 2017. There are 13 sites in the ABC programme, all of which are now operational. The focus of this is to learn from these programmes and then inform the rest of the system of that learning and ensure that it is reflected in our services throughout the country.

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