AQW 20235/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 09/01/2025
Answered On Date: 24/01/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the (i) membership; (ii) forward work plan; and (iii) meetings that have taken place during the last 12 months of the Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning Stakeholders Group.

Answer:

The Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning stakeholders group consists of representatives from DOH (Office of Social Services), DAERA, DE, DOJ, PHA the Health and Social Care Trusts, One Equine Trust, RDA, Ulster University, and Queens University (PhD research student).

The workplan to-date has focussed on supporting research and awareness raising activities and the development of pilot programmes. A workplan for 2025/26 is under development with the Group.

Stakeholder group meetings are held quarterly. In the last 12 months meetings were held on the respective dates: 22 January 2024, 25 March 2024 and 1 October 2024. A meeting is scheduled for 14 January 2025.