Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for coming before us today. The committee often hears very negative presentations, but both presentations today showed the benefits of autism assistance dogs and equine therapy. We need to hear more about this and see that more funding goes into both areas.

I have read and listened to the witnesses' stories, and I have heard other stories from parents about how having an assistance dog has changed their lives. They can go on short holidays and sort of live normally. It is upsetting to learn that AADI is not funded at all. I know many families who are disappointed because they did not get one of the organisation's amazing dogs. Members of this committee and I will personally champion the case for funding for AADI because it is so important. The benefit of having an assistance dog is immense.

My cousin's family has a little dog that they trained and they were looking for accreditation for it. The dog is such a help to their daughter and, much like a person's phone, they cannot go anywhere without it. The impact that specially trained animals have on the lives of children with autism and the whole family is amazing. It can be life changing. This would be money well spent by the Government. I am very happy to support AADI.

I note St. Joseph's Foundation is a HSE PDS hub. I know the HSE has come before the committee before and we have attended many meetings. Does the foundation experience the same issues with recruitment, retention and vacancy rates or is it bucking the trend? The foundation seems to have a good pool of staff.

Dr. Coughlan mentioned an autism register. We asked other guests who came before the committee whether they think it is a good idea to have an autism register or if it is better to have a disability register. I know there are two schools of thought on that, but I would like to know how valuable the witnesses think an autism register would be.

When the cystic fibrosis community put together a cystic fibrosis register the supports came because there were clear data to show that X number of children had cystic fibrosis. They then started building the units in the hospitals and life expectancy rates for children with cystic fibrosis went up. Some would say that was because of the register. I am interested in hearing the witnesses' thoughts on that. I thank them for taking time to attend.