Joe O'Brien - Green Party Joe O'Brien - Green Party

Minister Joe O’Brien welcomes NESC review of Community Call programme

24th March, 2021

The Community Call has helped vulnerable people throughout Fingal to access a range of services in their communities throughout the pandemic

Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development with special responsibility for Community Development and Charities, has welcomed the publication of ‘Community Call – Learning for the Future’ a report by the National and Economic Social Council (NESC).

The Community Call was launched in April of 2020 as an unprecedented partnership linking national and local government with the community and voluntary sector to coordinate the volunteering efforts of communities in response to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Local Authority Community Response Forum was established in every local authority area, including Fingal. These Forums have done immense work in coordinating vital supports for vulnerable people.

The NESC report found that organisations working together across boundaries were able to effectively identify vulnerable people and their needs, deliver a range of services to them, and co-ordinate to cover any gaps in service provision. Inter-organisational structures, such as the Community Call Forums led by each local authority, made a significant difference to the ability to coordinate and deliver rapid responses.

Minister Joe O’Brien welcomed the review and reflected on the positive impact the programme has had in Fingal:

“When COVID-19 arrived in Ireland last year, our fears and anxieties grew – but there was also something extraordinary happening at a community level across the country, that I think we should reflect on today and be very proud of. The rapid mobilisation of community groups, volunteers, and state agencies under the Community Call led to unprecedented eagerness in every local authority area in Ireland to offer assistance, to collaborate and work together and to reach out and ensure vulnerable people and our over 70s were not left behind and were looked after.”

“When COVID-19 arrived in Ireland last year, our fears and anxieties grew – but there was also something extraordinary happening at a community level across the country, that I think we should reflect on today and be very proud of. The rapid mobilisation of community groups, volunteers, and state agencies under the Community Call led to unprecedented eagerness in every local authority area in Ireland to offer assistance, to collaborate and work together and to reach out and ensure vulnerable people and our over 70s were not left behind and were looked after.”

“The Community Call still operates and I want to thank all the volunteers, the community groups and the statutory organisations that have been involved in Fingal’s Community Response. Volunteers have provided meals, delivery of essential items, and transport to healthcare appointments for people in need of support, among many other services. The Fingal Community Response number is 1800 459 059 with the lines open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and the dedicated email address is covidsupport@fingal.ie”

“As we recover from the pandemic, I’m particularly interested on how we can build on and develop the new collaborations that the Community Call brought about but also our increased collective ability to reach those who were and are most vulnerable and isolated.”

“St Patrick’s Day is usually a day when we come together in our communities to celebrate everything we have to offer. While we can’t gather in person this year, we can still reflect on the value our community spirit has and the tireless work community volunteers do to support others. Lá Fhéile Pádraig.”

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Notes for the editor:

NESC Report, “Community Call – Learning for the Future”: https://www.nesc.ie/publications/community-call-learning-for-the-future/

Tags: covid-19, Funding