Applications are now open in relation to the 2022 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 or Ronan Bilbow, Rural Recreation Officer at 086-7713550. Grant aid of 90% is available under Measure 1 to a maximum of €30,000.
This Scheme is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and supported by Fáilte Ireland.
News
New Rural Recreation Officer
Longford Community Resources clg (L.C.R.L) and its new Rural Recreation Officer (RRO) Ronan Bilbow are hard at work reviewing the current walking trails in the county, and are supporting the development and delivery of new community trails across the region.
Ronan is a native of Erris, County Mayo, where farming, community development work, and outdoor recreation were always an important part of his life, and continue to be through his role as RRO. The former teacher understands that communities require support and guidance and that with this, great things can be achieved to benefit everyone.
In July 2021 Ronan, took over the role of Rural Recreation Officer for Counties Roscommon and Longford. With the primary role of the RRO being the rollout and management of the National Walks Scheme, Ronan has been busy to date with the management of 3 trails in County Roscommon that are on the Walk Scheme, as well as supporting outdoor recreation throughout the county. L.C.R.L and the RRO are now keen to increase the presence and impact of the RRO throughout County Longford.
The support of existing community trails and the development of new projects is an important part of the Rural Recreation Officer’s role. Highlighting possible funding streams and supporting groups with their applications is an important element of this.
Rural Communities & Groups (community/voluntary organisations) are invited to submit an Expression of Interest for funding under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2022. Eligible Activities include resources to support countryside recreation, including for the upkeep and maintenance of already established trails/walkways/cycleways/blueways, improved access to leisure or recreational facilities, and the promotion and marketing of such infrastructure. Full information on eligibility and other aspects can be found by searching ORIS on www.gov.ie. To receive an application form to submit an expression of interest, or to submit any questions, please email rro@ridc.ie.
If you need guidance with the development of an existing or new walk/trail, please feel free to get in touch with your Rural Recreation Officer by emailing Ronan Bilbow at rro@ridc.ie, or calling 0867713550.
Christmas Holidays at LCRL
The Board and Staff of Longford Community Resources Clg wishes all the individuals and groups we work with Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022.
We will be closed from 5pm on Thursday 23rd December and will re-open on Tuesday the 4th of January 2022.
Vacancies – Community Worker and Community Outreach Support Worker
Pre-employment Training Course
Interest Free Education Loan
Covid-19 – Vaccine information from HSE
Public Health Measures
You can find information here about the public health measures in place.
Vaccine registration opens for people aged 25-29
Online registration for everyone aged 25-29 opens Friday 16th July. People in this age group can all register from this date, and will be offered a vaccine appointment at a HSE vaccination centre within 3 weeks of registering. People aged 18-24 will be invited to register online next.
For updates and information on the vaccination programme please visit www.hse.ie/rollout.
Vaccine options for people in this age group
People aged 18 to 34 may have a choice between 2 types of vaccine, both types will protect from severe illness from COVID-19.
- the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. These mRNA vaccines are the recommended and preferred option for people under the age of 50. People aged 25-29 will be offered an appointment for one of these vaccines within 3 weeks of registering online.
- the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. These viral vector vaccines have been associated with a rare side effect of unusual blood clots, which is more common in people under 50.
When registering online, people can indicate that they are happy to opt for a viral vector vaccine. This may mean they can be vaccinated sooner, all depending on vaccine supplies. The appointment text will let people know which vaccine is being offered.
People aged 18-34 can also choose to get a Janssen vaccine at a participating pharmacy, depending on supplies. If people in this age group are already registered with a pharmacy for a Janssen vaccine, they can now register on HSE.ie for an mRNA vaccine.
Read information to help you decide which vaccine is best for you.
Registration for people aged 30 to 69
People aged 30 to 69 who have not already registered for their vaccine can still register online.
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 Freephone: 1800 700 700 to register by phone.
We ask that you don’t bring children with you for your vaccination appointment. Please ask someone to help care for children while you are at your appointment.
If you have no childcare options, your child will need to stay with you at all times while you are at the vaccination centre. When you arrive for your appointment, we will ask you to fill in a form giving contact details for a nominated adult who can take care of your child in case of any emergency.
AstraZeneca second dose vaccination
If you received a first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, you should get your second dose 4 to 12 weeks after your first dose. If it is almost 12 weeks since your first dose and you have not received an appointment for the second dose yet, please contact HSELive on Freephone 1800 700 700. People aged 60-69 should all receive their second dose by the end of this week, Sunday July 18th.
After you have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you are vaccine protected
When your vaccine has had time to work, you can do some things that were not recommended before you were vaccinated. You can find more information here.
EU Digital COVID Certificate
From this week, people who have been fully vaccinated will receive their EU Digital COVID Certificate. The certificate is proof (in digital or paper format) that you have either:
- been vaccinated against COVID-19 or
- received a negative COVID-19 test result or
- recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 monthsIf you have queries in relation to this certificate or international travel in general, you can:
- visit the government website
- get travel advice to help you make an informed decision
- access travel advice and information on measures in place across the EU
The emergency helpline number for the Digital COVID Certificate is: 1800 851 504
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/covid19vaccinefor 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 thefull COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy
- Read the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Chapter about COVID-19 vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccine information for health professionals
COVID-19 Testing – Online Booking System
We have a COVID-19 test online booking system for some testing centres. To book a test, log on to our system here. You can also show up without an appointment, but you may not have to wait as long if you book online.
Full details of how to get tested are available here.
COVID-19 webinar: Guidance updates for Healthcare Staff Undertaking Home Care Visits and Community Outpatient Services
Friday 16th July from 12-1pm, presented by: HSE AMRIC Team, Prof Martin Cormican, National Clinical Lead Infection Prevention and Control, and Mary Mc Kenna, Infection Prevention and Control, Director of Nursing Asst.
To pre-register and attend copy the following link to your internet browser and follow the instructions: https://hse-webinar.webex.com/hse-webinar/onstage/g.php?MTID=ef949a7b21d849de3b9f82eb7daf54253
For telephone access to listen to the webinar: 01 526 0058, Access code: 175 390 4836
HSE Cyber Security Incident Update
While good progress has been made in restoring some of our systems, services around the country are continuing to see significant impacts and disruptions to services. Healthlink, which provides an interface between the HSE and the GP community, has had functionality restored and GPs can now send information to the HSE on their vaccination progress, and other important services.
Visit the HSE website service updates page for regular updates about service changes and follow our updates in the news and on HSE social media channels.
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.
Longford Waters Project
Under the Rural Environment Theme – Protection and Sustainable Use of Water Resources, LCRL have recently undertaken a “Water Resources Management” training course for Communities in County Longford. Please visit the project web site for information on recent field trips to Legan and Saint’s Island, a water conservation webinar, funding opportunities for projects in Longford and lots more.
PRESS RELEASE – LONGFORD COMMUNITY RESOURCES WELCOME ANNOUNCMENT FROM MINISTER O’BRIEN ON THE NEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PILOT PROGRAMME
Longford Community Resources (LCRL) are delighted with the announcement this morning by Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, that LCRL were awarded funding for their application to the Community Development Pilot Programme. The call for applications was a competitive process and LCRL were one of 7 out of 120 applications to be successful.
LCRL Chairman, Pat O’Rourke, said ‘We were delighted to welcome Minister O’Brien to the LCRL offices this morning to make his announcement on the award of funding to projects under the Community Development Pilot Programme, we particularly welcome the announcement that the LCRL application has been successful.’
The project, to work with members of the Roma and other new communities, aims to support these groups move on from accessing basic services to become active communities working collaboratively with each other and with statutory and other community organisations.
This initiative which will work towards the establishment of an autonomous community development project, managed and run by members of the Roma and New Communities, will support these communities with greater participation in local decision making structures, to continue developing relationships with local service providers, raising awareness of the importance and value of the inclusion of all ethnicities and of Longford becoming an intercultural, inclusive county.
LCRL CEO, Adrian Greene said ‘We look forward to expanding our work with these communities, and with other organisations in the county supporting them, to make Longford a county where all cultures and ethnicities are respected and valued’.
HSE Updates
While good progress has been made in restoring some of our systems, services around the country are continuing to see significant impacts and disruptions. Although essential services are continuing, our systems are not functioning as usual and patients may experience delays and in some cases cancellations. People can check updates on services that are affected on the HSE website service updates page.
Healthlink, which provides an interface between the HSE and the GP community, has had some functionality restored and GPs can now send information to the HSE on their vaccination progress, and other important services.
Medical card services have been significantly disrupted and our processes are slower as a result. As it’s not possible to register medical card applications online at the moment, we are asking people to send in postal applications. While we are processing emergency cards as quickly as possible, applications for non- emergency cards have been impacted. Call 1890 252 919 (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday) if you have any medical card queries. You can find more information here.
Visit HSE website service updates page for regularly updated information about service changes and follow our updates in the news and on HSE social media channels.
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
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.
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 Freephone: 1800 700 700 to register by phone.
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)
• 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)
We are also vaccinating:
• pregnant women over 14 weeks – you can find more information here
• socially vulnerable adults
• people aged 40-69 who have registered for their vaccine.
Vaccine registration opened for people aged 35-39 from Sunday, 20th June
In order to help manage the vaccine registration process, we are asking people to register on a specific day:
• 20th June for 39 year olds
• 21st June for 38 year olds
• 22nd June for 37 year olds
• 23rd June for 36 year olds
• 24th June for 35 year olds
Pharmacies now offering Janssen vaccine
Many pharmacies are now offering the Janssen single-dose COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 50 or over who haven’t been vaccinated yet. Find a pharmacy to book your vaccine appointment here.
AstraZeneca vaccine second dose
The AstraZeneca vaccine is a two dose vaccine. Please attend for your second AstraZeneca dose when invited. This gives increased and longer lasting protection against COVID-19 including the Delta variant now circulating widely in the UK.
Anyone who received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine should get their second dose 8 to 12 weeks after the first dose. If more than 12 weeks has passed since your first dose and you have not received your second dose, you can phone HSELive on 1800 700 700. You can read more here.
After you have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you are vaccine protected
When your vaccine has had time to work, you can do some things that were not recommended before you were vaccinated. 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
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.