Council and volunteer groups praised for their response to COVID-19 crisis

FIGURES have shown that during the month of April Cork County Council’s dedicated COVID-19 emergency helpline fielded more than 190 requests for assistance from across the North Cork region.

The free helpline on 1800 805 819 was set up at the end of March in order to co-ordinate efforts by the Council, gardaí, the HSE, An Post and voluntary and statutory groups to provide services to vulnerable people and those cocooning across the county.

Of he 191 requests received in North Cork, 124 came from the Kanturk/Mallow municipal district and 67 from the Fermoy MD.

A report showed the vast majority received by the Kanturk/Mallow MD were in relation to the delivery of essential medicines, groceries and meals to people in their homes and information on local authority services.

Other requests included those seeking transport to medical appointments and Covid testing, pension collections, the delivery to homes of newspapers, books and PPE and the disposal of household waste.

Cork County Council’s COVID-19 Helpline is available daily from 8am-8pm. Help is also available via text on 085 870 9010 or by email on covidsupport@corkcoco.ie. People living outside of the State can also make contact with Cork County Council on 021 425 5517 if they have concerns about an elderly or vulnerable relative or friend.

Senior council executive Mary Hayes said in addition to an overall triage team coving the wider North Cork area, a trio of town specific teams covering Mallow, Kanturk/Newmarket and Charleville had been set up under the authority’s Community Support Programme.

Each of the teams include council staff, a community garda and representatives from the HSE and Leader development groups, with the team operating daily from 8am-8pm.

Speaking at the April Kanturk/Mallow meeting senior council executive Mary Hayes said the ongoing initiative has proven to be a huge success.

“It is also important to acknowledge the great work that many voluntary groups have been doing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have really been putting their shoulders to the wheel as part of a concerted effort to help the most vulnerable people in their communities,” said Ms Hayes.

Speaking at the meeting County Mayor Ian Doyle praised the manner in which all of the statutory and community bodies across the region had bonded together since the crisis began.

“There has been an unbelievably cooperative atmosphere, with people going that extra yard to ensure the safety of the vulnerable people in their communities. I am very proud to have been a part of it,” he said.

His sentiments were echoed by all of the district councillors, each of whom paid tribute to council staff, front-line workers and volunteers for their efforts over the past number of weeks.

Cllr John Paul O’Shea (FG) said a key element of the strategy had been the way it has supported small business across the area through these “tough times.”

“These businesses are vital in ensuing the long term viability of our communities, towns and villages. They are also important from a rates point of view to fund services into the future,” he said.