Joe O'Brien - Green Party
Minister Joe O’Brien encourages vulnerable to avail of community call under new lockdown
8th January, 2021
Community call is coordinate community activity and direct community assistance to where it is needed.
Minister Joe O’Brien of State for Community Development and Charities and T.D for Fingal, is urging older and more vulnerable members in our communities in Fingal to avail of supports made available through the Community Call.
At the beginning of the pandemic Fingal County Council established a dedicated Forum one aspect of this was the creation of the helpline to assist at risk members of the public in accessing non-emergency and non-medical supports and advice during the current public health emergency. The Forum includes over a dozen agencies and organisations and is ensuring that within Fingal there is co-ordination around the operation to ensuring that vulnerable members of the community or those living alone can access deliveries of groceries, medicine and fuels.
The Community Call initiative, part funded by Minister O’Brien’s Department received over 5,000 calls from members of the public in the first week of its existence.
Urging people to use the service Minister O’Brien said,
“Many of us had hoped that 2021 would see not only the beginning of a new year but the end of Covid. Unfortunately, although there is positive news in relation to the roll out of the vaccine we need to suppress the virus as much as we can to protect our communities. Hospital admissions and ICU numbers are worrying and as such, it has been deemed necessary to implement this stricter restrictions to try and ensure our health service and our health workers are not overwhelmed.”
“I understand people are understandably feeling frustrated and fed up with the ongoing restrictions but ultimately this will ensure we beat this virus. Although it is difficult, more than ever we need to let those that are vulnerable or in need of a bit of help need to know that they are not alone.”
“Since the very start of this emergency, the community and voluntary sector has been working on the ground and also at national level with my department through the Community Call. One of our greatest assets in this country is the strength of our local, community and voluntary networks and these networks have mobilised so that everyone in our communities have been able to look after each other.”
“I am urging anyone who might need some supports not to hesitate to ask for help — whether it’s with shopping, fuel delivery, collecting medicines or any other necessities of daily life. The Fingal Community Call helpline is there as a safety net, to ensure that everyone is looked after.”
The Fingal Community Helpline is 01 890 5000 and the email address is covidsupport@fingal.ie.