Access to quality services. In 2011, children were 1.6 times more likely to be in consistent poverty compared to adults. In recognition of the higher risks and life-long consequences of child poverty, a new child-specific social target is to be set in the Better Outcomes: Brighter Futures - The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020. An area-based approach to child poverty initiative, the Area Based Childhood programme (ABC), which is designed to deliver prevention and early intervention programmes, is undergoing significant expansion. These interventions and services cover a broad range of areas, including parenting, early education, speech & language therapy, and pro-social behaviour, and involve programmes that have been tested in an international context. Community-based initiatives have a vital role to play in supporting social participation and enabling access to services, in particular the local and community development programme and the family resource centres programme. Housing and health services are also important in the fight against poverty, especially for marginalised groups, as detailed in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. During the consultation processes, key issues that arose in this focus area are the high unemployment rate in and emigration from rural areas and the need to respond via targeted training and support for enterprise development and job creation. Access to credit and finance in general is also an important aspect of initiatives that support enterprise development. There are a number of sectors within the rural economy that have been identified as having potential from the perspective of enterprise development and job creation. These sectors include Artisan Foods, Renewable Energies, aquaculture, seafood processing, marine tourism/leisure, Social Enterprise and Creative Industries.
