A multi-agency, community-led COVID-19 team has met for the first time in Clare, to discuss how to lead the on-the-ground response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The forum is made up of two working groups that will break down the advice coming from the government and ensure that there are agencies placed around Clare to act where they are needed.
Work has been ongoing for the past three weeks in setting up the Clare COVID-19 Community Support Response Forum, which has now sprung into action.
The forum is made up of two working groups, which have a number of members and teams on board, in order to best address the needs of the county at this challenging time.
It met for the first time today at Áras Contae an Chláir.
Mayor of Clare, Fianna Fáil’s Clare Colleran Molloy, says they’ve been working hard to produce the best possible response to the crisis, and they stand ready to help people in every corner of Clare.
The first working group of the forum is the inter-agency one, which will be made of Clare County Council, the HSE, Gardaí, the Department of Social Protection, An Post and other related agencies.
Its role will be to identify vulnerable groups and individuals in the first instance, while seeing what social supports can be provided.
The CEO of Clare County Council says that as the situation is evolving rapidly, it’s difficult to see where things will go, but Pat Dowling insists they are ready to act quickly.
The inter agency group will be supported by the community support working group, which further breaks down the response on the ground.
This will include groups like Clare Haven, the Clare Local Development Company, the Irish Red Cross and so on.
Chair of the Clare Volunteer Centre Michael Foley says they are well placed to act quickly, where they are needed, thanks to the assistance of a number of existing organisations.
All of the work that will be carried out by the Clare COVID-19 Community Support Response Forum will be coordinated by the helpline launched yesterday.
It can be contacted on 1890 25 29 43 for those who need it.
