Council sets up Kilkenny Covid-19 helpline to help local communities during crisis
A special Covid-19 helpline has been set up to provide a communications lifeline for local communities over the coming weeks.
The helpline – 056 779 4145 – set up by Kilkenny County Council went live at 10am this morning. It will operate from 10am to 6pm on week days, and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. A dedicated email – covidcommunity@kilkennycoco.ie – has also been been set up by the local authority.
The council has called on all local volunteer groups, organisations or clubs that have a community support programme in place to register their details with the local authority and the above number or email address.
A spokesperson said: “This helpline is to assist both State Agencies, local community volunteer networks, and other groups by providing necessary information, guidance and linkages.
“We will be working with and building on the work currently underway by GAA Clubs and many other community and voluntary groups on the ground and endeavouring to ensure that vulnerable people are supported at this time of serious need.”
The council said it will take referrals from agencies, including:
- Gardai
- Local councillors
- Older Peoples Council
- PPN
- KLP (Kilkenny Leadership Partnership)
- ALONE
- Civil Defence
- Parish Priests
- Volunteer Groups, such as GAA and other local community volunteer networks.
The council added: “The key objective of this facility is to assist groups with information and linkages in order to deliver a unified community response to COVID-19.
“We would ask those groups that are already established to contact us, let us know what they are doing and where they are located. This will allow us to identify any gaps there may be in the city and county. We can then plan to fill these gaps.”
