Written answers

Thursday, 3 February 2022

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Child and Family Agency

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of resources and the reach in special schemes for parent and early childhood support in disadvantage areas such as ABC and Preparing For Life; if he has evidence on the impact of such programmes on progress for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5318/22]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Tusla ABC Programme within Tusla's Prevention Partnership and Family Support programme, is an area based Prevention and Early Intervention initiative which is delivered in 12 areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage across the country. The programme will receive an allocation of €8.2 million in 2022, through Tusla’s core funding.

Consultations with key stakeholders are being progressed to explore what aspects of the ABC model can be scaled or replicated to broaden the reach and share the programme's learning. These discussions are considering identified needs, resources available and the scope of the programme. The National Evaluation of the Area Based Childhood Programme was published in December 2018.

In addition to the core funding for interventions delivered through the Tusla ABC programme, I have recently approved funding of over €600,000 through the What Works initiative for the scaling of proven models, including the Preparing for Life Home Visiting programme, Infant Mental Health Networks and the Early Talk Boost programme. All of these programmes have undergone evaluations which point to positive effects on school readiness, the application of mental health principles and dissemination of knowledge among key professionals working with children, and oral language development.

A key objective of my Department for 2022 is to develop an Evidence Matrix through the What Works initiative which will provide commissioners of family support and parenting support services with information on the effectiveness of different programmes.

The programme for Government commits to expanding access to effective parenting support programmes. The Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme was launched in 2021 and will provide increased health and wellbeing services in 19 community areas across Ireland. The initiatives include parenting programmes to support the mental health of parents and healthy child development. Parents in the 19 areas will be offered either the Triple P or the Parents Plus parenting programmes. Tusla are a key partner in the development of this element of the programme.

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