Helpline to provide assistance and support for community
By Mary Dennehy
A DEDICATED community support helpline for the South Dublin County area is up-and-running to assist people at risk during Covid-19.
South Dublin County Council has taken the lead in joining together local organisations, which together can provide a network of assistance and support.
Dublin County Council has taken the lead in joining together local organisations
Following direction from Government, a Covid-19 Community Response Forum is being put in place for each city/county and co-ordinated by the local authority in each area.
According to South Dublin County Council: “A dedicated community support helpline will be established in South Dublin County Council 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 confidential phoneline service has been established by the new Covid-19 South Dublin Community Response Forum, which includes over a dozen agencies and organisations.
“The helpline, which can be contacted on 4149043, is focused primarily on ensuring that vulnerable members of the community or those living alone can access deliveries of groceries, medicines and fuels.
“The role of the Forum is to ensure that there is a co-ordinated community response and to enable all voluntary statory agencies to collaborate in support of our communities and particularly of our most vulnerable members.”
The new phoneline is just one aspect of the Forum’s work.
“It’s core aim is contributing to the community-wide efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19”, the council said.
“South Dublin County Council, through this group, will ensure that the wide variety of groups working across the County to assist those in need, will do so in an organised, collaborative and targeted way.
“The council’s Covid-19 Community Response Forum is there to ensure the very best use of the many resources assisting vulnerable persons with their daily needs at this unprecedented time, whether that is collecting medication, food shopping, social support and contact.”
Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr Vicki Casserly said that a number of agencies are currently doing “excellent work” in delivering care to older and vulnerable people in communities.
“These groups are currently operating independently of each other and South Dublin County Council’s role is to provide a targeted, integrated and coordinated approach to the delivery of these much-needed services to our more vulnerable citizens across the County during the Covid-19 pandemic”, she said.
According to South Dublin County Council Chief Executive, Daniel McLoughlin confirmed that the forum came into effect from Monday, March 30.
The dedicated contact number 01 4149043 will be open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week, supported by an out-of-hours email covidsupport@sdublincoco.ie
“South Dublin County Council is ideally placed both statutorily and regionally to channel this great work and provide the governance structure in partnership with all stakeholders”, Mr McLoughlin said.
“This public health crisis has changed life for so many, and we are there to help with that change.
“Our own staff whose day-jobs have changed due to this crisis, will be a key resource in the management and operation of this community support programme along with our partner agencies/groups.”
The contact details for this new service will be promoted on www.sdcc.ie, with an information leaflet being distributed around the county/city – particularly to vulnerable households.
Call the dedicated contact number on 4149043 or email covidsupport@sdublincoco.ie during out-of-hours.
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