COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
QUESTION NO. 5
QUESTION: Councillor Alan Edge
Can the Chief Executive provide a breakdown of the number of individuals considered vulnerable for the purposes of covid19 within the Area covered by this committee and explain how the data is compiled and what steps have been taken to ensure that no-one is missed.
REPLY:
In the area covered by this Area Committee 1,332 individuals were identified by South Dublin County Council as potentially vulnerable persons.
In determining this information, several internal databases were examined and collated to a single comprehensive dataset. This included the following:
- applicants under the Council's Home Security and Lock scheme
- applicants under the Council's Carbon Monoxide scheme and Smoke Alarm schemes
- records of social inclusion and older persons
- housing records of potentially vulnerable tenants
In addition, South Dublin County Partnership identified potentially vulnerable persons on a county wide basis within their records.
The South Dublin Community Response Forum, led by South Dublin County Council set up a dedicated Community Call Helpdesk (freephone 1800 240519 or email covidsupport@sdublincoco.ie ) operated 7 days a week jointly by the Council’s Community Department and South Dublin County Partnership to respond to requests for support and assistance from vulnerable people. Across the County over 1,100 calls have been received by the Community Call Helpdesk since 30th March. Part of this initiative included the Community Call Callouts to those identified as potentially vulnerable with over 1,600 calls having been made to date. The aim of the initiative is to make vulnerable households aware of the Community Call and respond immediately to any issues or concerns raised.
The South Dublin Community Call Helpdesk has been extensively advertised on the Council's social media accounts, by the Councils Community Development Team, by member organisations of the Community Response Forum and information leaflets have been distributed at COVID -19 test centres across the county.
The Community Response Forum also wrote to pharmacies across the County to advise of supports available for emergency delivery of medication to vulnerable customers and has supported the An Post Request a Check Initiative locally. An Post have also assisted with the delivery of the school meals programme. A survey of 30 lone parents was conducted by SDCP and was followed up with 180 lone parents across the county being contacted. Shorter versions of the SICAP funded "4 the Family" programme have been developed offering simple tips to families around the areas of Play, Parenting, Health & Technology.
A national co-ordinated campaign for the Community Call was launched by the Department Rural and Community Affairs including radio, tv print and social media advertising. An information booklet was produced containing local authority Community Call helpdesk contact details and circulated to every household in the country, starting in the Dublin region.