Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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475. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she will make a decision on the application to be included in the Government's Area Based Response to Child Poverty Initiative submitted by the Docklands and East Inner City Consortium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28777/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is implementing the new Area-Based Response to Child Poverty programme which was announced as part of Budget 2013. The programme is being introduced on foot of the Programme for Government commitment to adopt an area-based approach to child poverty, drawing on best international practice and existing services to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched and improve the outcomes for children and young people. The programme will build on and continue much of the work of the Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (PEIP) which was also implemented by my Department.

The three existing PEIP sites and at least three additional sites are expected to participate in the new programme. In addition, it is my intention to broaden the impact of the programme by beginning the process of mainstreaming some of the evidence-based programmes which have been positively evaluated and are cost-effective. The establishment of my Department's new Child and Family Agency later this year will be important to this process.

Applications to participate in the programme were invited from interested not for profit consortia earlier this year. The closing date for receipt of applications was 31st May and fifty applications were received, including the one referred to by the Deputy. These are currently being reviewed by officials in my Department assisted by members of the cross-Departmental Project Team which is overseeing the process. When completed, I hope to be in a position to announce successful applicants later this year.