Volunteer appeal as 'Community Call' initiative to aid coronavirus fight launched
The government has launched a major initiative which aims to see a volunteering response across Ireland during the coronavirus crisis.
Tanaiste Simon Coveney said the Community Call project is a partnership with national and local government, and will also involve the community and voluntary sectors to help the vulnerable.
Community Call will aim to co-ordinate community activity, direct community assistance and marshal a volunteering response in every town, parish county and city.
Speaking at Government Buildings on Thursday, Mr Coveney said that he has an “unshakeable belief” in the resilience of Ireland’s society and in the power of community.
Mr Coveney said the focus will be on the elderly, vulnerable communities and people most affected by the new restrictions announced by the Irish government last week.
“Community has never been more important than it is right now,” Mr Coveney said.
“In the end, community is what will get us through this crisis on a local and on a national level.
“I can’t overstate the importance that the Government attaches to the power of community action in this crisis.
“We’re asking the most senior public servants in every county and every city to oversee a new initiative that we’re announcing today.”
He explained that volunteers will help pick up groceries and collect medicines, and that people will be vetted before being allowed to participate.
.@MichaelRingFG "We have made substantial progress in co-ordinating and responding to the needs of our communities and I want to praise the outstanding contribution of the community and voluntary sector to the national effort to address the effects of the COVID-19 crisis." https://t.co/ew4j9IP6fi
— Department of Rural and Community Development (@DeptRCD) April 2, 2020
Mr Coveney added: “In the coming weeks we will focus on broader well-being issues in our society with a range of new initiatives as the crisis continues.
“At national level, Community Call will be overseen by a group from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Housing, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Health and the County and City Management Association.
“At a local level, Community Call will be overseen and managed by our local authorities.
“It will be a network of 31 community call offices, stretching from Kerry to Donegal from Dublin to Mayo.
“It’s happening now. and it’s happening everywhere from today.
“Every local authority has now established a community forum to co-ordinate and connect to a wide range of services and supports.
In the face of this national emergency it will be how we respond as communities, how we look after our friends and our neighbours that may well be decisive
“The forum involves an extensive lists of state and voluntary and community organisations and sporting organisations.”
Mr Coveney added: “This is an unprecedented mobilisation of State and voluntary resources to combat the effects of a crisis that has come on us, so suddenly and so unexpectedly.
“I am convinced, though, that our communities will be the decisive factor in protecting and restoring our society and our economy in the weeks and months ahead, bringing us to a better future.
“In the face of this national emergency, it will be how we respond as communities, how we look after our friends and our neighbours that may well be decisive.
“In my view, Ireland has stronger communities than any other country in the world.”
Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring said that nobody will be left behind in the fight against coronavirus.
Mr Ring pledged that the Government and communities will be there to help the vulnerable and the elderly.
In a direct message to pensioners and vulnerable people, he said: “We will be there to help you.
“Do not be afraid. The most important aspect in this is neighbours, because every neighbour knows each other and people trust their neighbour.
“I’m asking neighbours today to take up the phone, and everybody has a phone, and ring your neighbour to see that they are OK.”
Mr Ring also said that 80,000 people will be involved in a new senior alerts scheme which will see volunteers making regular calls and checks on the elderly.
In a short time we have scaled up on, testing centres, testing kits, contact tracers, nbr of Labs, hospital beds, ICU, ventilators, PPE, staff.
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) April 1, 2020
Our current major issue is "reagents" for labs. A worldwide shortage. We are working hard to fix this. Bear with us @HSELive #COVID19
He added: “I also want to say to people to stop putting up messages on Facebook that is not true. Do not frighten our vulnerable people in our country.”
It comes as the chief executive of the Health Service Executive said officials are “working hard” to resolve a shortage of testing materials for coronavirus.
Paul Reid appealed to the public to “bear with us” as the HSE tries to address the worldwide issue.
He was speaking after it emerged that Ireland is falling short of the target number of tests being carried out each day.
“Our current major issue is ‘reagents’ for labs.
“A worldwide shortage. We are working hard to fix this. Bear with us.”
On Wednesday it was confirmed there had been 14 more deaths and 212 new cases of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland.
Eighty-five people have died since the outbreak began in the Republic.