Coronavirus: Gardai hiring 210 additional vehicles to provide community support
By Maurice Garvey
AN Garda Síochána is hiring up to 210 additional vehicles to provide additional support and community engagement across the country.
The ‘contingency’ vehicles will be used to maintain personal interactions and where needed, to assist and support people, which may include collecting medical prescriptions, attending hospital appointments and other supports they may need.
New additional vehicles
They are not primary response vehicles.
Speaking today Deputy Commissioner Twomey said: "As a community at this time we need more than ever to support the most vulnerable in our society, particularly our elderly and isolated.
An Garda Síochána has always worked closely with our communities and we continue to do so in these extraordinary times.”
Gardai continue to urge families, neighbours and community groups to engage with people in line with ‘social distancing’ guidelines.
Across the country, gardai are being asked to actively identify persons most at need, particularly those with limited local family or social support.
The aim is to link identified vulnerable people with local, national and state services where appropriate.
Any person with these concerns for themselves or for a neighbour should contact their local garda station.
An Garda Síochána has established a COVID-19 National Co-Ordination Unit operating from Garda HQ under Deputy Commissioner Twomey, to co-ordinate and manage a strategic policing response to the situation
