Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2013
382. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of the 50 applications that were made to participate in the area-based childhood programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51786/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast week I was delighted to announce with my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamonn Gilmore TD that an additional nine areas have been selected to enter the design stage of the Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme 2013-2016 in line with a key Programme for Government commitment.
This brings the total number of areas to 13, as three existing projects which participated in a forerunner Prevention and Early Intervention Programme in Tallaght, Ballymun and Darndale have already been approved for entry into the new ABC Programme and a further project in the Midlands linked to the existing ‘Preparing for Life’ project in Darndale, is being included.
I was also pleased to confirm that the Programme has attracted 50% co-funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies, bringing total funding to €29.7m. It would not have been possible for us to have considered bringing in this number of programmes were it not for the generosity of the Atlantic Philanthropies.
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 PEIP which was also implemented by my Department and co-funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies.
50 applications were received from consortia wishing to participate in the Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme 2013-2016. Three proposals were received from PEIP participants, and a basis for their transition into the new programme was agreed during the Summer. The 47 other proposals were considered against criteria set out in the applications process, namely Evidence of Need, Quality of the Proposal, Additionality & Sustainability, and Understanding and Capturing Outcomes, and ranked accordingly.
I will provide the Deputy with a complete list of the 50 applications today.
