Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee. I will start with a few questions on the assistance dogs. I am aware of a number of people who have an assistance dog. Yet, when I say an "assistance dog", I am not sure whether they are assistance dogs or companion dogs. I did not realise there was a difference between the two. However, I do know about the differences they have made to the lives of these people and their families. We heard that 100 dogs need to be trained every year. Is that an underestimate because we do not even have proper data on the numbers of people who have autism or disabilities of different types? Is it the case that people do not apply for an assistance dog because they know there is such a long waiting list? Ms Geraghty referred to a woman who did not apply because she knew she would probably not get a dog for years or maybe not at all. Is Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland the only organisation that trains these dogs? Does it do so on a national basis and is there outreach? The funding requested, €500,000, seems very small and I think it should easily be met. While I am not in Government, we would support it.

How does St. Joseph's Foundation fund its equine services and how many people use its services? Is this service offered in other parts of the country by other equestrian centres? If not, could it be offered to people in different areas? Is special training needed around it? It sounds as though both organisations do wonders, whether it is with dogs or horses.