March 29, 2019: The human stories of homelessness, and the human touch needed to better support people, have been documented in a novel ‘photovoice’ project launched today by Minister Katherine Zappone. The report Many Voices, No Homes – Voices from the Front line of Homelessness includes detailed personal accounts, together with photographs, of  lived experiences of homelessness […]

February 14, 2019: Dolly Parton’s dream to get children to develop a love of books and reading early in life is coming to Ireland – as her charity teams up with local partners to announce a free book-gifting programme. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) works with local partners to gift books to young children across the […]

November 29: 2018: A breastfeeding initiative has been launched in Tallaght to encourage women to breastfeed and to highlight the many benefits to the infant and mother’s health. The Tallaght Welcomes Breastfeeding initiative was launched today by journalist and breastfeeding advocate Siobhan O’Connor who encouraged uptake from mothers – and for the community to back breastfeeding in public […]

October 25, 2017: The Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) has called on Government to support the continued delivery of prevention and early intervention programmes in Tallaght West – and to share what has been learnt with services across the country. At a special presentation to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone, TDs and Senators […]

September 12, 2017: 13,000 children, parents and staff across Tallaght West have benefitted from a €22m investment in prevention and early intervention in the community over 10 years. Celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary at Tallaght’s Civic Theatre today, the Tallaght West based Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) thanked families and the community for their commitment to better […]

13 February, 2017: The expansion of a family intervention programme which developed prisoners’ parenting skills into other prisons has been called for, following a new report from Limerick University. The Family Links programme worked with prisoner families in Limerick Prison to develop improved relationships between prisoners, their partners and children – together with developing and […]

June 6, 2016: CDI is delighted that our founder and previous Chair, Katherine Zappone, has been appointed as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Katherine has a long established history of working to reduce poverty and educational disadvantage, and her role in developing and leading An Cosan, a community education centre in Tallaght West.  It […]

April 22, 2016: The Childhood Development Initiative and Preparing for Life, Northside Partnership have today welcomed a decision by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Atlantic Philanthropies to allocate funding to extend their work until August 2017. A total of €1.2m has been allocated to the two organisations plus youngballymun, a third […]

February 9, 2015: A new study has highlighted the need for improved communication and collaboration between different organisations working with children and families in Tallaght. The study was launched by the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) at a special networking event for service providers to children and families in Tallaght West. The launch event was organised […]

December 9, 2014: Homelessness campaigner Fr. Peter McVerry has encouraged greater use of Restorative Practices, as a measure to tackle homelessness. Speaking at the launch of two Restorative Practice reports in Dublin today, Fr. McVerry said that greater use of restorative practice in disadvantaged families, communities and in schools would help to prevent homelessness. “Homelessness […]