Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1854. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports that are currently available to the equestrian sector to support equestrian activities for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities; and if he has any plans to introduce additional supports in this regard. [1824/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is a recognised National Governing Body who are eligible to apply for grant funding from Sport Ireland to support equestrian activities for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities. Horse Sport Ireland has been successful in their application and delivery of certain diversity and inclusion targeted initiatives since 2016. These projects are funded primarily through the Dormant Account funding for sport.

The investment aims to engage with communities across the country, focusing on people with disabilities, people who are educationally disadvantaged and from disadvantaged communities.

The Riding for Disabled Association of Ireland (RDAI), an Affiliate of HSI, are a charitable organisation who provide the opportunity for individuals, with physical or intellectual disabilities, to horse ride or carriage drive and this in turn provides therapy, fitness, development of skills, socialisation, achievement and most importantly fun.

HSI received funding in 2022 through the Dormant Account Fund Investment to support the work of RDAI with €45,000 allocated under the Diversity & Inclusion stream. The project funded under this stream will provide comprehensive training to existing and new RDAI Volunteers who are the lifeblood of the organisation and provide therapeutic and recreation riding to any person with a physical and/or intellectual disability.

Additional funding from this Investment to the value of €7,000 was received under the Sport for all Disability Supports Club Fund. Funding under this stream will support small scale infrastructure and disability specific training and education at grassroots level.

Similarly, in 2016, Horse Sport Ireland was awarded €40,000 for a partnership project with Riding for the Disabled to deliver innovative and comprehensive training programmes for RDAI volunteers

In 2020, HSI in partnership with the Association of Irish Riding Establishments (AIRE) and their registered equestrian centre, Childvision, received funding of €40,000 from the Dormant Account Fund Investment to deliver a project that provided comprehensive training to equine professionals in therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning. The equine professionals in turn through the project worked with approximately 200 adults and children with disabilities ranging from Cerebral Palsy to Acquired Brain Injury, Cognitive Difficulties, Mental Illness, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorder, Developmental Delay and Social / Emotional Disorders.