Children:

The Department of Education and Skills has prepared information about Talking to children and young people about COVID-19 (pdf).

 

Community Groups:

COVID-19 Government Action Plan to support the community response.

COVID-19 Posters/Videos English & Irish, available here.

To support the community response to COVID-19 the DRCD have developed a suite of leaflets about volunteering, on supporting communities and advice during this time. Find out more here.

Irish Rural Link have prepared a useful ‘Protocol for Community Groups and Volunteers in delivering services’ during COVID19. Access the protocol here.

 

Essential Services:

Galway County Council has updated its provision of services during COVID-19.

 

Housing:

Emergency measures were announced on 19 March 2020 to protect tenants who have been impacted by COVID-19.  

 

Immigration:

Immigration permissions during COVID-19 have changed. Immigration Services Division has a list of frequently asked questions about these changes.

 

Information:

HSE (Health Service Executive) COVID-19 updates available here.

HPSC (Health Protection Surveillance Centre) – Guidance for healthcare professionals on COVID-19 available here.

Government of Ireland (Gov.ie) COVID-19 – Latest Updates available here.

 

Mental Health

List of Mental Health Supports from HSE.ie, available here.

Advice on Minding your Mental Health during the outbreak available here.  

Jigsaw Resource to Coping with the impact from Corona Virus.

 

Online and phone supports: Face-to-face interaction may be limited during this period. There are many online mental health resources and phone services that can help. Check here.

 

Older People:

Information on supports for older people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Older people who have questions or concerns can contact:

• ALONE helpline on 0818 222 014
• Senior helpline on 1800 804 591

Advice for the elderly and those who need supports- Advice during COVID-19.

Information on how to guard against fraud and generate trust-Protecting against fraud.

 

Social Security:

If you have lost your job, or been laid off because of COVID-19, you can apply for the COVID-19 Unemployment Payment.

How to nominate a temporary agent to collect DEASP payments: An Post Temporary Agent Form

On 19 March 2020, DEASP announced that social welfare payments will paid on a double (two-week) basis. You can find out more about these changes.

The DEASP also have a dedicated COVID-19 Income Support Helpline (open from 9am-5pm, 01-2481398 / 1890-800-024.

All of our updates, contacts, links & info here.

Find out more about your employment rights during the COVID-19 restrictions.

 

Travel:

If you are planning to travel abroad, you should follow the travel advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 

Volunteering:

Advice for those who want to volunteer- How can I volunteer in response to COVID-19?

‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of volunteering – Sensible volunteering in response to COVID-19

‘How can we get volunteers’? – Advice on the recruitment of volunteers for community groups.

If you are well enough and would like to volunteer, or are looking for volunteers, in response to COVID19 please register with Volunteer Centre Galway.

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of Coronavirus to appear. 

Information on Covid-19 can be found on HSE website. If you have recently travelled from an affected area or want information about coronavirus, go to their coronavirus page. 

900 ventilators ordered for use in Covid-19 pandemic. The Health Service Executive has said that 900 new ventilators have been ordered for use with patients with Covid-19 and some of those will be delivered by the end of the month. That is in … www.rte.ie 10 Positive Updates on the COVID-19 Outbreaks From Around the World

If it seems that your news feed has been flooded with nerve-wracking updates on the COVID-19 outbreaks, have no fear—there are also plenty of positive updates on the pandemic as well. So without … www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Solidarity is spreading as the COVID-19 crisis continues | World Economic Forum Local councils in Wales are recruiting “an army of volunteers” to keep in contact with neighbours who are most at risk and to go shopping for them. In Oxford, England, volunteers have set up the Help Hub to offer online support and reassurance to vulnerable people who are self-isolating. And, in the United States, artist Yadesa Bojia produced Facebook videos translating official … www.weforum.org

Fergus Finlay: Resilience and responsible actions will see us through Covid-19 crisis As we get closer to the peak of the crisis, we will each have to take more personal responsibility, writes Fergus Finlay. People masked up in Dublin as Covid-19 contiues to effect life on a quiet … www.irishexaminer.com

In light of the curtailment of many face-to-face Family Carer support services, and following extensive feedback, Care Alliance Ireland has set up an online Family Carer Support Group.

Open to all Family Carers living in the Republic of Ireland, this new online private group will be facilitated by a number of professionals with social work and counselling qualifications, moderation experience and will be supported by a number of former and current family carers who have stepped forward to volunteer.

The objectives of the group are as follows:

• • mitigate the impact of the sudden withdrawal of face-to-face support services that has occurred in recent days,
  • provide a safe virtual space for family carers to seek reassurance, ask questions, receive peer support and contain raised anxiety
  • encourage members to consider and create a back-up plan should they fall ill.

As of this morning (Wednesday 18 March), the group is now up and running at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FamilyCarerOnlineSupportGroupIreland/

This will be delivered through the Facebook platform, in a closed/private group format. Users will need a Facebook account to participate.

The following steps are required to join the group;

1.  Login to your Facebook Page

   (To set up Facebook account check here)

2.  Go to our Facebook Page Group available here.
3.  Ask to Join the group

You will then be asked three questions:

1. Are you living in the Republic of Ireland?
2. Are you providing unpaid care to a family member or friend in their home due to an illness, disability or frailty?
3. Will you adhere to the group rules, specifically with respect to protecting the privacy of the person you are caring for?

Requests to join will be reviewed by the group administrators (Care Alliance Ireland staff), and subject to applicants replying yes to the three questions, they will be allowed to join the group.

Other info:

Our group of 2 staff and 10 volunteers have been discussing group facilitation, content, moderation, etc over the past number of days and are confident that we can provide meaningful support.

We are aware of the privacy concerns that may exist. We have put in place clear Group rules and have modeled these on the very successful Special Needs Parents Association private Facebook Group that has been in operation for several years.

Furthermore, we have managed a specific Facebook page for the past 8 years – NationalCarersWeek. It has over 20,000 followers, 75% report being current and or former family carers, see here.

Please consider sharing news about this page with the families you work with.

The ILN are conscious of the extra stress facing many family members with regard to supporting their family during the current crisis.

Some families face a reduction in formal supports, closure of schools, loss of employment and reduced income. 

We hope to provide important updates and supports for you during this time.

                               

Resources during Covid-19:

 

Children:

The Department of Education and Skills has prepared information about Talking to children and young people about COVID-19 (pdf).

 

 

Community Groups:

COVID-19 Government Action Plan to support the community response.

 

COVID-19 Posters/Videos English & Irish, available here.

 

To support the community response to COVID-19 the DRCD have developed a suite of leaflets about volunteering, on supporting communities and advice during this time. Find out more here.

 

Irish Rural Link have prepared a useful ‘Protocol for Community Groups and Volunteers in delivering services’ during COVID19. Access the protocol here.

 

 

Essential Services:

Galway County Council has updated its provision of services during COVID-19.

 

Housing:

Emergency measures were announced on 19 March 2020 to protect tenants who have been impacted by COVID-19. 

 

 

Immigration:

Immigration permissions during COVID-19 have changed. Immigration Services Division has a list of frequently asked questions about these changes.

 

Information:

HSE (Health Service Executive) COVID-19 updates available here.

HPSC (Health Protection Surveillance Centre) – Guidance for healthcare professionals on COVID-19 available here.

Government of Ireland (Gov.ie) COVID-19 – Latest Updates available here.

 

Mental Health:

List of Mental Health Supports from HSE.ie, available here.

Advice on Minding your Mental Health during the outbreak available here. 

Jigsaw Resource to Coping with the impact from Corona Virus.

 

Online and phone supports: Face-to-face interaction may be limited during this period. There are many online mental health resources and phone services that can help. Check here.

 

Older People:

Information on supports for older people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Older people who have questions or concerns can contact:

 

• ALONE helpline on 0818 222 014
•  
• Senior helpline on 1800 804 591

Advice for the elderly and those who need supports- Advice during COVID-19.

Information on how to guard against fraud and generate trust-Protecting against fraud.

 

Social Security:

If you have lost your job, or been laid off because of COVID-19, you can apply for the COVID-19 Unemployment Payment.

 

How to nominate a temporary agent to collect DEASP payments: An Post Temporary Agent Form

 

On 19 March 2020, DEASP announced that social welfare payments will paid on a double (two-week) basis. You can find out more about these changes.

The DEASP also have a dedicated COVID-19 Income Support Helpline (open from 9am-5pm, 01-2481398 / 1890-800-024.

All of our updates, contacts, links & info here.

 

Find out more about your employment rights during the COVID-19 restrictions.

 

 

Travel:

If you are planning to travel abroad, you should follow the travel advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 

 

Volunteering:

Advice for those who want to volunteer- How can I volunteer in response to COVID-19?

 

‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of volunteering – Sensible volunteering in response to COVID-19

 

‘How can we get volunteers’? – Advice on the recruitment of volunteers for community groups.

 

If you are well enough and would like to volunteer, or are looking for volunteers, in response to COVID19 please register with Volunteer Centre Galway.