September 13, 2013: Children and families in Tallaght West are set to benefit after €4m has been allocated to early intervention programmes, which are targeted at the most disadvantaged in the community.
The area has been identified as one of the Area Based Responses to Child Poverty in the country which the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Atlantic Philanthropies have committed funding to.
The new programme of work is to be coordinated by the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) and continue until 2016 – with thousands of families and children to be targeted.
Announcing the ‘next chapter’ of prevention and early intervention work in the area, CDI Chief Executive Marian Quinn said she was delighted that this funding has been committed and said that CDI would be consulting widely with the community to identify new programmes that would best meet community needs.
“We are delighted to have this further opportunity to work together with the community in Tallaght West to support better outcomes for children and families.
“In particular CDI plans to support a new early intervention programme specifically for 0-3 year olds – and there will be widespread engagement with parents and service providers in the coming months to agree this. Also elements of CDI’s existing programmes including Doodle Den, Speech and Language Therapy, Restorative Practice and the Early Years service will be continued.”
CDI has considerable experience of working in Tallaght West, after overseeing seven prevention and early intervention prevention programmes in the area since 2007. These programmes have engaged with approximately 5,000 children and parents improving literacy, speech and language skills, health in schools, community safety and conflict resolution.
All of the programmes have been rigorously evaluated to determine if they are effective and the interventions which are continuing are those which were found to bring greatest benefit to children.
The development was welcomed warmly by Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr. Dermot Looney who attended the announcement at CDI’s Office at Fettercain.
“CDI has provided an excellent model of how we can improve outcomes for children by evaluating services to identify what really works. I am delighted that this work is to continue and be developed further. It will bring much needed benefit to the community.”
CDI Chairperson, Joe Horan thanked the many people and groups who have helped make these programmes a success.
“I want to thank families and schools in Tallaght West for their support and said look forward to further engaging with them. I also want to thank the dedicated staff of CDI and our many partner organisations across the community. Our local TDs in Dublin South West have been champions of CDI and we recognise and commend their support,” he said.
Other ‘Area based Responses to Child Poverty’ will be located in Ballymun and Dublin 17. Three new areas around the country have yet to be identified and CDI will also have a role in supporting and mentoring these areas.
CDI’s Prevention and Early Intervention work in Tallaght West in NUMBERS
Phase 1: Autumn 2007 – Summer 2013
• €16m invested in Tallaght West
• 7 prevention and early intervention studies published
• 8 Policy Papers published
• 5,000 children and families targeted (approximately)
• 195 children received Early Years programme
• 555 children participated in Doodle Den literacy programme
• 420 children participated in Mate Tricks behaviour programme
• 1,100 children involved in the Healthy Schools initiative
• 480 children received Speech and Language intervention
• 700 households involved in Community Safety Initiative
• 860 parents and staff received Restorative Practice training
• 110 young people received Restorative Practice training
• 250 parents have taken part in formal parent education
• 44 lunchtime seminars held with an average of 40 participants
• 15 people supported on NUI Maynooth Masters in Education Programme.
• 54 full and part time posts created.
Phase 2: Autumn 2013 – Summer 2014
• New programme to be supported specifically for 0-3 years olds
• 500 families to receive Early Years parent support in
• 240 children to participate in Doodle Den literacy programme
• 150 children to receive Speech and Language Therapy Intervention
• 670 parents and staff to receive Restorative Practice training
• 100 young people to receive Restorative Practice Training
• Other new programmes to be considered
• Further reports being completed.
Further Information: Ronan Cavanagh, Communications Coordinator, Childhood Development Initiative: (086) 317 9731.