22 December, 2009 - Minister O'Keeffe announces €150,000 for guide dogs centre in Cork

The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, today announced €150,000 for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind to help the centre develop its assistance dogs programme for children with autism.

Minister O'Keeffe said he was delighted to secure the funding for the centre whose national headquarters is based on Model Farm Road in Cork.

On a visit to the centre, Minister O'Keeffe said he had been personally touched by the work of chief executive Pádraig Mallon and his team who have improved the quality of life of hundreds of people living in challenging circumstances.

'The funding I am announcing today is for the Assistance Dogs for Families of Children with Autism project.

'Since 2004, the project has matched 100 assistance dogs with autistic children and their families all over the country.

‘Earlier this year, I visited the centre and met many families whose lives have been transformed by the dogs and by the work of Pádraig and his team.

'The assistance dog brings about significant behavioural changes and improved manageability in autistic children who develop a close personal bond with the animal.

'The dog, who undergoes an intense two-year training programme, can calm the child and help him to ignore external stimuli in public places.

'About 100 dogs have already been trained but I know that 100 families are on the waiting list so I hope that this funding will go some way towards developing the programme and training more dogs.'

The funding brings the total amount provided by Minister O'Keeffe to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind this year to more than €200,000.

Earlier this year, Minister O'Keeffe announced €72,000 to help the centre to develop its mobility services.

ENDS