Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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412. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated to early intervention schemes for 2014; the amount allocated for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48044/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The ABC Programme is an innovative prevention and early intervention initiative consisting of committed funding for an area-based approach to helping to improve outcomes for children by reducing child poverty. The programme builds on and continues the work of the Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (PEIP) 2007 - 2013 which was co-funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) and Atlantic Philanthropies (AP).

The ABC Programme targets investment in evidence-informed interventions to improve the long-term outcomes for children and families living in areas of disadvantage. 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 jointly funded by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies (AP). The total amount of committed funding from both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and The Atlantic Philanthropies available in the period 2013-2016 will be €29.7m.

In 2013, 13 sites were approved for inclusion in the ABC programme. It is expected that all of the projects will be operational by the end of 2014.

In 2014 €4.0m was allocated to the ABC Programme. In 2015 €4.75m will be allocated to the ABC Programme.