Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
439. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total budget and staff of special prenatal and preschool services delivered in particularly disadvantaged areas under ABC or equivalent programmes; and the total number of children served. [9638/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTulsa’s National Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an area-based Prevention and Early Intervention initiative which is delivered in twelve areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage across the country through the Prevention Partnership and Family Support Programme within Tusla.
Through prevention and early intervention approaches, the ABC programme works in partnership with families, practitioners, communities and national stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for children and families living in areas where poverty is most deeply entrenched. ABC concentrates its work on supporting families, babies, and children aged pre-birth to 6. The total 2023 ABC Budget is €8,537,745.
Based on figures from ten of the twelve ABC sites, in 2022, the ABC programme engaged with a total of 14,486 parents and supported 10,048 babies and children aged birth to 3 years of age as well as 6,548 preschool children. The programme also delivered workforce capacity building to 5,947 professionals.
