<p>
	The IQ of the children who received intervention was 10 points higher than those in the control group.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The children whose parents received the intervention were less likely to be overweight (23% compared to 41% in the control group) and had fewer behavioural problems (2% compared to 17% in the control group).</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	New developments mean the programme has already been rolled out in three other locations and pending funding, the plan is to roll it out nationally.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;The programme has now been rolled out in Bray, Finglas, and Newbridge and they are coming back with very good feedback,&rdquo; said Greg O&rsquo;Reilly, PFL&rsquo;s programme manager.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;We are building up a PFL training programme and in order to have a PFL scheme in every disadvantaged community in Ireland, we need to have people trained up.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;Into next year we would hope to see this rolled out nationally,&rdquo; he added.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Another development will see PFL turn into Ireland&rsquo;s first ever longitudinal study on childhood development.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;We have just secured legacy funding from various different sources, such as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and from philanthropic organisations.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;We will now be able to go back to children from phase 1 at different junctures, so when they&rsquo;re seven, 14 and track their progress right up until they&rsquo;re in their 20s,&rdquo; Mr O&rsquo;Reilly said. &ldquo;This definitely hasn&rsquo;t been done in Ireland before,&rdquo; he added.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Mr O&rsquo;Reilly explained how exactly the programme worked: &ldquo;The programme kicks in pre-birth with home visitors and mentors providing support to parents pre-birth.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;After birth then, at particular junctures, we give the parents tip sheets. Mentors talk the parent through what is on the sheet and they implement it.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;Each sheet refers to a specific juncture, so they only have one at a time as opposed to a big book of information,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Parents received up to 50 home visits each.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 6th June 2017)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/intervention-programme-children-had-higher-iq-and-fewer-behavioural-problems-792515.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/intervention-programme-children-had-higher-iq-and-fewer-behavioural-problems-792515.html</a></p>
