SIPTU members in Cork County Council operate new Covid-19 Community Support Programme

SIPTU members employed by Cork County Council will assist vulnerable people in the community with tasks such as grocery shopping and the collection of prescriptions as part of a newly established COVID-19 Community Support Programme. SIPTU Organiser, Davey Curtin, said: “Our members in Cork County Council have worked with management to establish this programme. Our members intend to serve their communities to the best of their abilities during the crisis. These are our communities and it is our brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents and neighbours we are working to protect. “The Cork County Council fleet of 185 vehicles will be used by our teams as part of the programme. Our members will work side by side with the main local statutory agencies in co-ordinating the assistance offered to the most vulnerable in our communities throughout the Covid-19 crisis.” He added: “During this crisis these local authority workers will be standing alongside their colleagues in the health, retail, transport, utilities, manufacturing and other sectors who continue to work on the frontline. The dedication and bravery of these workers will ensure our society and economy is in the best position to quickly rebuild once the crisis has concluded.” If family, friends or neighbours wish to request the services of the COVID-19 Community Support Programme in county Cork for persons who are requested to cocoon themselves in their homes in accordance with HSE guidelines they should contact Free Phone 1800 805 819. Lines are open from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., seven days a week. The Covid-19 Community Support Programme has been organised as 19 ‘town teams’ covering the entire county. The ‘town teams’ are organised as follows: North Cork – Mallow, Charleville, Kanturk/Newmarket, Fermoy and Mitchelstown. South Cork – Macroom, Millstreet, Carrigaline, Cobh, Midleton and Youghal. West Cork – Castletownbere, Bantry, Schull, Skibbereen, Dunmanway, Clonakilty, Bandon and Kinsale.