To ask the Minister of Health (i) for his assessment of the benefits of animal assisted therapy; and (ii) to detail the current prevalence of this therapy in Northern Ireland.

Animal assisted therapy is considered as an innovative and effective intervention. It has shown that the interaction with animals can improve social behaviours and communication and can benefit service users for whom the more traditional forms of therapy are not appropriate or do not work.

Animal assisted services are offered in a number of facilities throughout Northern Ireland to assist children and adults in improving their mental health, those who suffer from a range of conditions including autistic spectrum disorder, attachment, trauma issues, sensory processing and communication difficulties. The facilities include social farms, animal rehoming centres and equine assisted services facilities.

Referrals have been supported through the Department of Health, Health and Social Care Trusts as well as Department of Education (as part of their Happy Healthy Minds Project). In addition the Victims and Survivors Service have provided equine therapy services to victims and survivors from Northern Ireland. There are also instances where an individual or family member will make a personal referral for such services.

The Department of Health are working closely with central government departments including DAERA, Education and Justice along with other organisations to further explore the benefits of this type of intervention. This partnership is part of an overarching plan for developing a new Equine Strategy for Northern Ireland with Health (equine assisted services) being one of the 3 key strands of work.

A number of equine assisted service pilots have taken place for Trust staff to help assess the benefits of this type of intervention for the workforce who have been on the front line delivering services during Covid-19.