18th May 2026
Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton TD, joined Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland on Wednesday May 13th to launch the charity’s new School Support Dog Programme Guidebook at an event in Leinster House, marking an important milestone in the continued development of AADI’s work in schools across Ireland.
The new guidebook sets out the full framework behind AADI’s School Support Dog Programme, which places highly trained dogs in primary and post-primary schools to support wellbeing, inclusion, emotional regulation and access to learning for neurodivergent students. It provides a comprehensive model for delivery, covering every stage of the programme from breeding, puppy development and behavioural assessment through to specialist training, school selection, matching, handler training, integration, ongoing mentoring, welfare monitoring and annual review. The guidebook is designed to ensure that every placement is delivered safely, ethically and with the wellbeing of both students and dogs at its centre.
Minister Naughton said:
“I was delighted to join Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland to launch this important new guidebook for the School Support Dog Programme. What stands out in this work is the care, structure and professionalism behind every placement, ensuring that both students and dogs are fully supported throughout the process.
Across Ireland, schools are working every day to create environments where children and young people feel safe, included and able to thrive. Initiatives like this can play a valuable role in supporting emotional regulation, wellbeing and engagement in learning, particularly for neurodivergent students who may face additional challenges in the school setting.
The research findings published by AADI clearly demonstrate the positive impact that support dogs are already having in schools, helping students feel calmer, more connected and more confident in their daily school experience. I want to commend Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland for the leadership they continue to show in developing a programme grounded in quality, evidence, animal welfare and the needs of students and school communities.”
AADI’s School Support Dog Programme has been developed to complement the work already being led by teachers, SNAs, school leaders and support staff, helping schools to create environments where students feel calmer, safer, more connected and more able to engage in learning. The guidebook reflects the depth of preparation behind each placement and the importance of ensuring that School Support Dogs are introduced as part of a structured, quality-assured programme rather than as a standalone intervention.
Recent AADI research shows the real difference School Support Dogs are already making in schools. Participating schools recorded an 83% overall impact score, with particularly strong results for wellbeing and emotional regulation at 89%, inclusion and social connection at 84%, and staff confidence at 85%. At the same time, schools still waiting to join the programme reported an 88% need for additional regulation supports, highlighting both the value of the programme and the scale of unmet need. The findings show that School Support Dogs are helping students to feel calmer, safer and more connected — supporting smoother transitions, stronger participation and better access to learning for children who may otherwise struggle to engage with the school day.
Nuala Geraghty, CEO of Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland, said:
“We are very proud to launch this guidebook today, because it reflects both the ambition and the care behind our School Support Dog Programme. A School Support Dog can make a very real difference in a school community, helping students to feel calmer, safer and more connected, while also supporting schools in their wider goals around inclusion, wellbeing and participation.
“The evidence now emerging from schools is very encouraging, and the need is clear. We hope that today’s launch can be the beginning of a closer partnership with Government to secure the financial support needed to make this programme sustainable and allow more school communities across Ireland to benefit from it in the years ahead.”
Nadine Bohane, School Support Dog Instructor with Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland, said:
“It is very special to see how far the School Support Dog Programme has come since I first began working on it in 2022. What started as a developing programme has grown into a structured, evidence-informed model that is now supporting students, staff and school communities in a very practical way.
“That impact does not happen by chance. It comes from careful training, thoughtful matching, strong preparation with schools and ongoing support throughout the placement. This guidebook brings that full journey together and sets out the standards, routines and safeguards that help ensure every School Support Dog can make a positive difference while also being cared for and supported in the right way.”
Among those attending the launch was Hannah Snowe, a participant in the School Support Dog Programme, whose school, Loretto Senior Primary Crumlin, works with School Support Dog Snow.
Hannah Snowe said:
“Having Snow in our school has made such a difference. She helps students to feel calmer and more comfortable and confident. For many children she can be the reason they are able to come into school, settle and take part in the day. She is reliable, hands-on support for students who need the extra help to regulate, reconnect and return to learning. Having Snow in our school has helped us to teach our students responsibility, empathy and kindness. Snow is the gift we didn’t know our school needed. She has created a warm, welcoming atmosphere that supports the wellbeing of students and staff. She is loved by the whole school community.”
AADI’s School Support Dog Programme is currently active in 17 schools across Ireland, with 30 schools on the active waiting list, and is designed to support neurodivergent students within the wider school community. The charity, which receives no ongoing Government funding for its services, hopes that the publication of the guidebook and the growing evidence base behind the programme will support future investment in a model that is already demonstrating strong outcomes for students, staff and schools.
ENDS
Contacts:
David McCarthy, Head of Fundraising & Communications, david@aadi.ie, 0830129549
Notes to Editors
- Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland was founded in 2010 and provides highly trained assistance and support dogs to autistic children and neurodivergent communities across Ireland.
- AADI is a fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International, the global body setting standards for the breeding, training, placement and welfare of assistance dogs.
- The School Support Dog Programme Guidebook sets out the programme’s full delivery model, including preparation and training, implementation, welfare, safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation.
- AADI’s recent School Support Dogs Impact Report is based on responses from 10 schools currently hosting a dog and 13 schools on the waiting list.