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

The Deputy will be aware that I am on the Dáil record as being very supportive, in both this and my previous Ministry, of early intervention and prevention, and of identifying children who are at risk and acting early. There are many good examples of programmes operating throughout the country through the ABC programme. I recently visited Sheriff Street, near the financial services centre, where an initiative is being funded partly by the Department and partly by private donations. The initiative has trained local people to go into homes where, because they are locals, they are accepted by the local home owners. They interact with parents in regard to teaching their children about how to interact and play in an educational way, even from the age of 18 months. It has been a major success.

We are very supportive of prevention and early intervention. We know that the people who benefit most from the preschool year and its extension are those who come from a disadvantaged background because it helps level the playing pitch for them and means they enter school with much improved reading and social skills.

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