Joint Committee on Autism to discuss animal assisted therapy and lived experiences of parents and siblings of autistic children

The meeting at 11am in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House will be split into two sessions:

• 11am – Representatives from Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland (AADI), Ms Nuala Geraghty, CEO, Ms. Debbie Carr, Parent/AADI Client, and Ms. Carla Ankiah, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer;
  Representatives from St. Joseph's Foundation (Liskennett Equine Therapy Centre), Mr. Michael Hegarty, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Barry Coughlan, Principal Psychologist and Mr. David Doyle, Project & Services Development Officer.
• 1pm – Ms Cara Darmody and Mr Mark Darmody;
  Representatives from Special Needs Action Group Athy, Ms Geraldine Murphy, Chairperson and Ms Deirdre Archbold, Treasurer.

Committee Cathaoirleach Senator Micheál Carrigy said: “This ongoing examination of Autism Policy gives the Committee the opportunity to discuss animal-assisted therapy. We will hear from Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland in Little Island, Cork, and from St Joseph’s Foundation, who will discuss the Liskennett Equine Therapy Centre, in Granagh, Co Limerick. The Committee wishes to learn more about these interventions, their benefits and their current availability to those who wish to access them.

“In our second session, the Committee will hear more about the lived experience of families of autistic people from the Special Needs Action Group in Athy, Co Kildare, including the challenges associated with parenting an autistic child without adequate support. We will also welcome 12-year-old Cara Darmody and her father Mark, who are from Co Tipperary. Cara is sister to two autistic brothers and the Committee looks forward to hearing directly from her about the experience of growing up with autistic siblings.”

The Joint Committee on Autism has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.