LCRL

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
The vaccination programme continues to be rolled out nationwide. 

Over the coming weeks and months, everyone in Ireland who is eligible will be able to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine from the HSE. The vaccine is bringing hope to our communities, reducing infections, illness and deaths among people who are vaccinated. Over 1.6 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Ireland and the more people who get vaccinated, the better it will be….for us all.

For updates and information on each of the vaccine allocation groups, and when and where they’ll be invited for their vaccine, please visit www.hse.ie/rollout.

Who can register today
We’re inviting people aged 56 to register today (Friday, 7th May).

If you’re aged 57-69 and you haven’t registered yet, please register for your COVID-19 vaccine online or on the phone.

Register online to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Read the user guide for help with registering online.
If you cannot register online, you can call the COVID-19 helpline at 1850 24 1850 to register by phone.

Who can register next
If you are aged:
• 55 – register on Saturday 8th May, or any time after.
• People aged 50 to 54 will be invited to register from Sunday 9th May.

We’re asking people to register on specific days to help us manage the demand. This will make it easier for everyone to register.

Groups currently being vaccinated
The groups currently being vaccinated against COVID-19 are:
• people aged 65 years and older who live in long-term care facilities (Group 1)
• frontline healthcare workers (Group 2)
• people aged 70 and older living in the community (Group 3)
• people aged 16 to 69 who are at very high risk (Group 4: 234,000 people at very high risk of severe COVID-19 due to an underlying condition have now received a first dose)
• people aged 65 to 69, including those at high risk (Groups 5 and 6)
• people aged 16 to 64 who are at high risk (Group 7)
You can read more about these vaccine allocation groups in the “Vaccination progress updates” section available here.

Where to find COVID-19 Vaccination Information
We encourage everyone to read about the COVID-19 vaccine and to get their information from a factual, trusted source – here are the links to the path information on the vaccine:
• Check hse.ie/covid19vaccine for information about the vaccine 
• Find the vaccine information materials at www.hse.ie/covid19vaccinematerials
• Details on getting the COVID-19 vaccine is updated regularly here

A video on the COVID-19 vaccination centres, and what to expect on the day of your vaccine, is available here.

How COVID-19 Vaccines Work video
A video on how COVID-19 Vaccines Work is available here.

 

Applications have opened for a €10 million fund designed to support community and voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises, which have suffered as a result of the pandemic.
 
The Covid Stability Fund 2021 was launched jointly today by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, and Minister of State with special responsibility for Charities and Community Development, Joe O’Brien TD.
 
The Fund is targeted at organisations which deliver critical services to vulnerable people within their community but which now face closure or a loss of service due to the impact of the pandemic. Priority will be given to organisations that have not previously received State support since the onset of the Pandemic.
 
Examples of the organisations that can apply include those that provide:
• Family supports and supports for the elderly
• Domestic Abuse and addiction services
• Mental health and disability supports
• Education supports in disadvantaged communities
• Community centres that provide social services
 
All of the application details can be found at https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/covid-19-cv-stability-fund-2021/
 

Separately, the Department intends to launch the 2021 Community Enhancement Programme over the coming days. That programme may be more relevant to smaller community groups and it is recommended that they monitor the Department’s website or stay in touch with their Local Community Development Committee, who will be administering the programme in their area, for further details.

A series of health & wellbeing podcasts have been produced for County Longford, this follows the similar launches in the neighbouring counties of Laois, Offaly & Westmeath. These podcasts capture a wide range of diverse and interesting conversations with a range of professional staff working across the Statutory and Community & Voluntary sector in the Midlands. Guests include John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy Prison and Author. These through-provoking conversations give fascinating insights into the experience and knowledge gained by these staff working across communities.

An example of topics includes: It Takes a Village – the role communities can play in supporting the development of young people, Building a Brighter Future, Women in Farming, Building Resilience, Parenting, Men’s Health, The Impact of Domestic Abuse on Families & Children and Youth Mental Health. The podcasts are available on all main podcast apps, such as Podbean, Google Podcast and Spotify.

The podcasts have been created through a collaborative partnership with HSE Health Promotion & Improvement (Midlands Louth Meath CH0 8), HSE Resource Office of Suicide Prevention (Laois Offaly), Offaly Local Development Company, Laois Partnership Company, Westmeath Community Development and Longford Community Resources.

 For Longford Talks Podcasts, please visit: https://lcrl.ie/longford-talks/
 For Offaly Talks, please visit: https://www.offalyldc.ie/offaly-talks-podcasts
 For Laois Connects Podcasts, please visit: https://laoispartnership.ie/laois-connects-podcasts
 For Westmeath Talks Podcasts, please visit: https://www.westcd.ie/index.php/westmeath-talks

Commenting on the podcasts, Adrian Greene, CEO of Longford Community Resources, noted “This is a wonderful initiative and we are very grateful to Anthony O’Prey, HSE Health Promotion Officer (Mental Health Promotion) and his colleagues for this. Anthony approached us back in October after the successful launch of the podcasts in the neighbouring counties and we were delighted to get involved. Staff from our SICAP, Youth Service, Volunteer Centre and Rural Social Scheme projects all took part and were delighted to get the opportunity to share their insights and experience of working with communities and individuals in Longford. We hope that people will access and benefit from listening to the Longford Talks podcasts over the coming months.”

Applications are now open in relation to the 2021 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. If you are a community group and are interested in submitting an application in relation to Measure 1 (Small Scale Repair/Development/Promotion and Marketing), please contact Longford Community Resources at 043-3345555. Grant aid of 90% is available under Measure 1 to a maximum of €20,000.
 
This Scheme is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and supported by Fáilte Ireland. To date, ORIS has allocated funding of almost €68 million for 973 projects around the country.

Public Health Measures
Ireland continues at level 5 restrictions. You can find more information here.

Where to find COVID-19 Vaccination Information
We encourage everyone to read about the COVID-19 vaccine and to get their information from a factual, trusted source – here are the links to the pages with information on the vaccine:

• Check hse.ie/covid19vaccine for information about the vaccine, information on this page is updated regularly
• Find the vaccine information materials at www.hse.ie/covid19vaccinematerials
• Details on getting the COVID-19 vaccine is updated regularly here
• Details on COVID-19 vaccines administered are available here
• Read the full COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy
• Read the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Chapter about COVID-19 vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccine information for health professionals 

Public Health Information
For the most up to date information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to: https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.

You can find the COVID-19 A-Z information here from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

Please also check the Healthy Ireland site here with further resources and information on the Keep Well campaign.

You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19 here.

Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.

Longford Community Resources, a member of the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) has welcomed the announcement by Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural & Community Development and Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture Food & Marine, of an increased allocation of €70 million nationally in 2021 and 2022 for the LEADER Programme. The ILDN represents the 35 Local Development Companies who deliver the LEADER Programme nationally.

 

Welcoming the announcement, Adrian Greene, CEO of Longford Community Resources said; “Longford Community Resources and the ILDN have been calling recently for the Government to utilise funding available from the EU for Rural Development, for the purposes of LEADER. As the implementers of the LEADER Programme in County Longford we are greatly encouraged by today’s announcement of an increased allocation of €70 million nationally to the end of 2022.”

 

“The LEADER Programme offers the ideal vehicle for the delivery of development funding to rural areas in the most effective manner. The allocation of this increased funding will deliver critical stimulus to rural areas to help drive the post Covid recovery. Furthermore, the funding announced today will ensure that more vital projects in County Longford focused on climate change, digital transformation, remote working and enterprise development can be progressed in our rural communities to meet the expectations of the EU in terms of the requirements of its recovery funding criteria.”

Below is a list of training that will be held during the month of March for small businesses. This training is organised by Longford’s Local Enterprise Office.

• Digital marketing plan for your business. The course takes place online over 3 hours on Thursday, 4^th March, 2021 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. You can register now at the following link – https://bit.ly/3cYjsKN

 

• How to advertise on Facebook and Instagram. The course takes place online over 3 hours on Thursday, 11^th March, 2021 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. You can register now at the following link – https://bit.ly/3tKStIt

 

• A Beginner’s Guide to Using Instagram to Market Your Business.  The course takes place online over 3 hours on Thursday, 18^th March, 2021 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. You can register now at the following link – https://bit.ly/3qhjOQA

 

• How to create marketing videos on a budget to promote your business.  The course takes place online over 3 hours on Thursday, 25^th March, 2021 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. You can register now at the following link – https://bit.ly/2Z5VXXZ

 

The trainer will be Evan Mangan from The Marketing Crowd. There will be limited availability so early booking is advisable.

Public Health Measures
We are experiencing an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases in Ireland.

Ireland is at level 5 restrictions. You can see the measures in place here.

We ask everyone, for the protection of our friends, family and the frontline, to please stay at home.

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
The vaccination programme continues to be rolled out nationwide, and we have administered a total of 121,900 Covid-19 vaccines (up to 20^th January).

The focus has been on residents and staff of Long Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) this week, with the aim of completing the first vaccinations by 24^thJanuary, though some locations may be slightly delayed due to outbreaks or other circumstances.

This week we have also begun to administer second doses of Pfizer – BioNtech vaccine for the first time.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme will be further accelerated as vaccines arrive, and it will involve a national partnership with GPs, Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals across Ireland.   

We encourage everyone to read about the COVID-19 vaccine and to get their information from a factual, trusted source – here are the links to the pages with information on the vaccine:

• Check hse.ie/covid19vaccine for information about the vaccine, information on this page is updated regularly
• Find the vaccine information materials at www.hse.ie/covid19vaccinematerials
• Details on getting the COVID-19 vaccine is updated regularly here
• Read the full COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy
• Read the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Chapter about COVID-19 vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccine information for health professionals 

Self-isolation and restricted movements
You can watch the latest self-isolation and restricted movements ad here.

Isolation quick guide: applying to those aged greater than 3 months and up to 13th birthday
You can find the guide here.

Isolation quick guide: adults and children from their 13th birthday
You can find the guide here.

New testing and self-isolation requirements for incoming travelers, including healthcare workers, to Ireland from Great Britain, South Africa and Brazil
Please find further details here.

Cleaning guidance for use in non-healthcare settings: General cleaning principles, and cleaning guidance when a person with COVID-19 has been in a setting
You can find the guidance here.  

COVID-19 web page for staff working in residential care settings
If you deliver care to older people in a residential care setting, please check out the new webpage: www.hse.ie/covidnursinghomeresources

This has been set up as a central point of contact for residential care facilities to access up to date clinical guidance, information and links to inform care and supports in these settings.

European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 18-24 January 2021. Our messages during this week will continue to highlight that HPV cervical screening is the best way to see if someone is at risk of developing cervical cancer in the future.

Due to the large number of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, it may take longer for some people to get a cervical screening appointment. But people should still check the register on www.hse/cervicalcheck and if they are due an appointment, to book one with a provider, even if it’s a few weeks away.

Public Health Information
As always, for the most up to date information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to: https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.

 Please also check the Healthy Ireland site here with further resources and information on the Keep Well campaign.

 You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19 here.

 Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.