Burke – Please contact Community Call if you are in need

Peter Burke, Minister of State for Planning and Local Government has urged all those who need assistance with grocery shopping, prescriptions or general supplies, to call the Community Call number, which is 1800 805 816 in Westmeath and 1800 300 122 in Longford.  The full list of phone numbers is also available at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1f06f7-covid-19-community-call-local-authority-helpline-numbers-and-email-a/

Burke, whose remit includes Local Authorities and these phone lines, says that staff are ready to take calls.

“Unfortunately, we find ourselves again in Level 5 with the virus circulating in our community. The advice has come again that those who are medically vulnerable or who are older in age could be more susceptible to COVID 19 and should limit their movements.

“We saw how our GAA clubs, how our neighbourhoods and our County Councils co-ordinating came to the aid of many during March and April and I can confirm that this phone line continues to be monitored.  Staff are on standby to fetch shopping, prescriptions or supplies for those who are not comfortable with leaving their house or who have been advised to stay at home by their doctor or the public health guidelines.

“The advice remains for us all to stay at home, unless for essential purposes, and I know this is extremely difficult.  I’m thinking especially at this time of those who have children or adults with a disability in their households who may not have services available to them or a routine, of those with relatives in nursing homes subject to visitor restrictions, of those who may live alone,  those who have children who now must be taken care of while trying to work from home and of those who have lost their employment due to the restrictions.  Everyone’s circumstances are different and Level 5 takes a toll on us all.  I would point to people to the new text number 50808, yourmentalhealth.ie or the HSE website if you need further support for your mental health.

“My office remains fully operational behind closed doors so please email peter.burke@oir.ie or call  044 9385044 if you need any assistance.  I am hopeful that these restrictions will bring case numbers down over the coming period and the vaccine will provide the light at the end of the tunnel that we all need”.

-ENDS-