Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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362. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of funding for a community project (details supplied) in Ballymun in County Dublin that wishes to restore resources for child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7011/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a joint prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies. The ABC Programme is a time-bound, co-funding arrangement of €29.7m from 2013 to 2017. The aim is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches in 13 areas of disadvantage to improve outcomes for children, in particular children and families living in poverty. The focus of the work under the ABC Programme covers in the main: Child Health & Development; Children’s Learning; Parenting; and Integrated Service Delivery.

This programme was preceded by the Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (PEIP) (2007-2013) which funded the following three organisations: Youngballymun, Childhood Development Initiative Tallaght, and the Preparing for Life Programme Darndale. Total funding provided to these 3 sites over the duration of both programmes amounts to €50m. Owing to their earlier transition into the ABC programme, Youngballymun and the other two sites are due to conclude their work on 31 July 2016 under their existing contracted funding arrangements.

My Department, in anticipation of the completion of this funding, wrote to each of these 3 sites in December 2015 to determine potential costings regarding the provision of an extension to these organisations until mid-2017. In the case of Youngballymun securing such an extension would afford the organisation additional time to (i) continue to build the evidence base supporting their work - a necessary requirement specific to this organisation; (ii) explore options regarding the mainstreaming of specific evidence-based programmes, and (iii) allow the organisation to inform the national evaluation of the ABC programme which is on-going.

My Department has met with Youngballymun and is actively working with this organisation – and also the Childhood Development Initiative Tallaght and the Preparing for Life Programme Darndale – in exploring options regarding the provision of an extension to their respective organisations within the available resources under the ABC Programme. In addition, my Department is also actively liaising with other relevant Departments to determine possibilities in relation to the mainstreaming of the proven elements of these respective programmes.

My Department is acutely aware of the time constraints involved in this process and is seeking a resolution on this issue in collaboration with all 3 sites. Officials in my Department have had on-going contact with Youngballymun on this issue. I would like to emphasise that with regard to Youngballymun the issue is not one of restoration of funding. This organisation is contracted under the ABC Programme to deliver services for the children of Ballymun up until 31st July 2016. My Department is actively seeking to ensure that funding is secured and an extension offered to Youngballymun and the other 2 sites within available funding. The intention is to bring these three sites into line with all other sites funded under the ABC programme.

The Secretary General of the Department wrote to the Board of Youngballymun on Tuesday 12 April seeking a meeting with the Board to outline the Department's position and in an effort to advance a resolution on this issue. I regret to say that the Chair of the Board declined this request. I would urge the Board of Youngballymun to engage directly with officials within the Department of Children and Youth Affairs who are proactively working in securing an extension of service provision for Youngballymun and the other two sites.

The Government is fully committed in seeking to ensure that the learning from the Youngballymun organisation and the other two sites, along with the learning emerging from the 10 newer sites funded under the ABC programme, can be brought forward to inform other services and supports for children in the area of prevention and early intervention. Such an approach would offer a greater reach, in scope and depth, which will in turn enhance outcomes for children throughout the country. As there is effective work being done on a range of themes across all 13 ABC sites a key focus over the next year will be to determine the high-impact programmes and provision across these areas so that a more strategic approach can be taken to mainstreaming such learning. Therefore, the provision of an extension to Youngballymun, the Childhood Development Initiative Tallaght and the Preparing for Life Programme Darndale, would afford the opportunity for a more comprehensive appraisal to be carried out in the round.

I am hopeful that the Youngballymun organisation will continue to engage with my Department to address their more immediate issues and inform the Department's wider plans in the area of prevention and early intervention. Improving outcomes for children is a key concern for us all, and one on which we need collective and constructive engagement and effort.