I welcome the new Covid-19 Forum and the Helpline and the opportunity to represent my colleagues and fellow Elected Members on this very important initiative” Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council Cathaoirleach Shay Brennan said. “We want to support everybody at this most challenging time, and as Elected Members, we particularly want to look after the more vulnerable members of our communities across the county. The Covid-19 dlr Community Response Forum intends to coordinate an overall community response that will enable local voluntary organisations and statutory agencies to collaborate in support of our communities and our more vulnerable citizens, whether that is collecting medication and food shopping for them, or giving them social support and contact”.
While the new phoneline is just one aspect of the Covid-19 dlr Community Response Forum’s work, it's core aim is to contribute to the community-wide effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Working with this group, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will ensure that the wide variety of groups assisting those in need does so in an organised, collaborative and targeted way.
“Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is ideally placed to channel this positive effort and provide the governance structure to implement it in partnership with our stakeholders” said Chief Executive, Philomena Poole, who is chairing the Covid-19 dlr Community Response Forum which was established over the weekend by the Council. “This public health crisis has changed life for so many, and we are there to help people deal with the many challenges they face. Our own staff, whose day-jobs have also changed will be a key resource in the management and operation of this community support programme, along with our partner agencies and voluntary groups”.
Included in the COVID-19 Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Community Response Forum are:
- Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
- Health Service Executive
- An Garda Síochána
- Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Public Participation Network
- Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Volunteer Centre
- Tusla Child & Family Agency
- ALONE
- GAA
- Community Welfare Service
- An Post
- Southside Partnership dlr
- Other community, voluntary and sports representatives
