Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, announced €2.7m additional funding for the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme in this year’s budget.

The ABC Programme, managed by Pobal and Centre for Effective Services (CES), aims to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

Dr Josephine Bleach, Director of the Early Learning Initiative at National College of Ireland, said:

“By committing this funding to the ABC Programme, the government continues to support 17,500 children across Ireland, giving them the chance to start school with the language, literacy and numeracy skills they need to succeed in education, career and life.”

The Early Learning Centre at National College of Ireland is the lead agency for the Dublin Docklands and East Inner City ABC Programme, which delivers an integrated programme of interventions and support, from pre-birth, for children, their parents and families, and educators.