Welcome to Kerry PPN

The Kerry PPN is the main link through which the Local Authority connects with the Environmental, Social Inclusion, Community and Voluntary Organisations and allows community participation in policy-making structures and committees of Council.

How does my group get involved?

Kerry Public Participation Network is the best way your group or community can become involved in shaping the future of Co Kerry. Membership of the PPN provides opportunities for better representation, networking, information sharing and input into policy development Read more

How do I register

Registration is easy. Simply click here and complete the Registration Form. There is no charge. Registered groups receive regular updates, information on funding opportunities and also benefit from the group insurance scheme.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE FREEPHONE HELPLINE

30th March 2020

COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE – NEW FREEPHONE LINE

PHONE: 1800 807 009

TEXT ‘SUPPORT’ and your NAME to 50555

EMAIL:covidsupport@kerrycoco.ie

COVID-19 KERRY COMMUNITY RESPONSE FORUM LEADS THE RESPONSE
INFORMATION LEAFLET BEING DISTRIBUTED TO KERRY HOUSEHOLDS
THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS MOBILISE TO SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE
A new telephone helpline has been launched in Kerry today to assist members of the public in accessing non-emergency and non-medical services and to provide support and advice to people during the current public health emergency.

The free, confidential phoneline service has been established by the new COVID-19 Kerry Community Response Forum which includes over a dozen agencies and organisations who have come together to mobilise and coordinate the community and voluntary response to the current crisis, particularly in responding to the needs of vulnerable households and individuals.

The FREEPHONE number 1800 807 009 is now up and running and will be available from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. A text line (text ‘SUPPORT’ followed by your NAME to 50555) is also available for the hearing impaired or those who require a call-back from the service while requests can also be e-mailed tocovidsupport@kerrycoco.ie.

The helpline, which is manned by trained volunteers, is focussed primarily on ensuring that vulnerable members of the community or those living alone can access deliveries of essential items like groceries, medicine and fuel. Where another agency or organisation can provide more appropriate information or advice, the caller will be connected with other organisations or services if required.

10,000 information leaflets including details of the new freephone number and other information are being distributed around the county over the coming days. This will be done through existing networks like the Kerry Public Participation Network, sporting organisations, local development companies and hundreds of community and voluntary groups across the county.

Said Niamh O’Sullivan, Head of Kerry County Council’s Community Department: “The group wants to harness the energy and generosity of people who have come forward to offer support to people in the community who require assistance and advice. The aim is to ensure that a coordinated, safe and reliable volunteer support network is available to those in need and that people in need of that assistance know who to contact for advice. Our work will complement much of the voluntary work which already taking place in communities across Kerry.”

Said Hillary Scanlan, Community Work Manager with the HSE, “There is a very long and proud history of voluntary and community activity in Kerry and also a strong commitment from the state agencies to work in partnership with communities to develop local responses to unmet need. The community and voluntary sector has again stepped up to respond to the current Covid19 crisis and ensure that basic needs of food, fuel, and medications are being provided.”

Said Chief Superintendent Eileen Foster of the Kerry Garda Division: “An Garda Síochána is here to reassure and support the community during the weeks ahead. We are working with other agencies as one for the benefit of all.”

Included in the COVID-19 Kerry Community Response Forum are:

Health Service Executive
Kerry County Council
An Garda Síochána
Kerry Red Cross
Kerry Civil Defence
Kerry Volunteer Centre
North East and West Kerry Development
South Kerry Development Partnership
IRD Duhallow
Kerry GAA
Kerry Public Participation Network (representing 700 approx community groups in Kerry)
Kerry Age Friendly Network
Local Link Kerry
St Vincent de Paul Society
Kerry IFA
Citizens Information Service
Other community, voluntary and sports representatives
The Group came together to complement and reinforce the tremendous work already underway across the county as communities respond to the needs of the community and it aims to ensure that any gaps in existing provision can be addressed and coordinated centrally.

The group is asking members of the public to share the phone number with elderly or vulnerable neighbours.

Coronavirus Advice

16th March 2020

Kerry PPN

Published by Bill Morrell12 hrs

March 27
People urged not to leave their homes

The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Health, Simon Harris, have issued strict guidelines for people to stay at home from midnight tonight (Friday).

The main rule is to STAY AT HOME. The only times you can leave your home are:

to travel to or from work if you are providing an essential service
to shop for food
to collect medical prescriptions and medical supplies and attend medical appointments
to carry out vital services like caring (including family carers)
for brief individual exercise – within 2 kilometres of your house. (You can bring children but must keep 2 metres away from others for social distancing)
for farming
You should not hold any private or public functions and this includes family functions for family who don’t live in the same house.

All community centres will close. All public transport will be restricted to those carrying out essential travel for the reasons outlined above.

All non-essential businesses will close.

Shielding or coccooning of older and vulnerable people will come into place where they should not leave the house and arrange for others check on them and to bring shopping and medicines. There is a guide to cocooning here.

Except for the reasons above; you should not travel more than 2 kilometres from your home

Update for PPN Members

GARDA PRESS RELEASE

An Garda Síochána is in the process of hiring additional vehicles to provide additional mobility to our members nationwide to provide increased community support and community engagement across the country.

Speaking today Deputy Commissioner Twomey stated that As a community at this time we need more than ever to support the most vulnerable in our society, particularly our elderly and isolated. An Garda Síochána has always worked closely with our communities and we continue to do so in these extraordinary times.

An Garda Síochána continue to urge families, neighbours and community groups to engage with people in line with social distancing guidelines.

As an organisation, Gardaí across the country are being asked to actively identify those persons most at need, particularly those with limited local family or social support. In these cases An Garda Síochána will assist.

These contingency vehicles will be used to maintain personal interactions and where needed to assist and support people, which may include collecting medical prescriptions, attending hospital appointments and other supports they may need. They are not primary response vehicles.

An Garda Síochána will also use these opportunities to link identified people into local, national and state services where appropriate.

Any person with these concerns for themselves or for a neighbour should contact their local Garda station, Contact details, including email contact, for all Garda stations can be found on the Garda website or in any phonebook.

An Garda Síochána has established a COVID-19 National Co-Ordination Unit operating from Garda Headquarters under Deputy Commissioner Twomey, Policing and security to co-ordinate and manage a strategic Garda response to this dynamic situation. Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security currently chairs daily meetings with Regional Commanders and Heads of Section monitoring the evolving position.

Kevin Daly

Kevin Daly, Superintendent

Community Engagement & Public Safety

Harcourt Square,

Dublin 2

Coronavirus Helplines and Home Deliveries

13th March 2020

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To all Kerry PPN registered groups.

Please share this information from An Post.

Family members of an older or vulnerable person currently cocooning will now be able to request a specific ” An Post Check-In” by the local postal operatives.

Family members can register for the free “Request a Check-In ” service by completing the postal address and eircode of the customer on their website at anpost.com/Community-Support and An Post will take it from there by assigning the request specifically to the delivery route the person lives on .

Also available is An Post’s Newspaper delivery service which will provide same -day delivery to households nationwide Monday to Friday. Customers can find out more about ordering their chosen national or local newspaper directly by phone. Deliveries will be made free-of -charge by An Post for older and vulnerable customers currently ” cocooning

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR

ELDERLY, VULNERABLE AND ILL OR SELF-ISOLATING

IN OUR COMMUNITY

use the

KEEL CASTLEMAINE EMERGENCY DELIVERY SERVICE

If you need a delivery service from any of the following businesses, please

1. phone your order to the business.

2. phone our Helpline 066 7174066 (no text messages) between 1pm and 4pm for collection.

3. Please have your eircode to hand.

Animal Feed:

Cronins 066 976 7376

Food and Dinners:

AnvilBar, Boolteens 066 976 7137, Stephen 087 413 9565 or Liz 087 689 9654

Household Shopping and Solid Fuel:

Benson’s Quik Pick 086 873 7943, Cronins 066 976 7376

Helena’s XL 086 286 6715 or 087 783 7507

Burkes Butchers 0669767345

Pharmacies:

O’Doherty’s, Milltown 066 976 7305

Solid Fuel:

Aidan Foley Fuels, Castlemaine 087 930 9611

Gearoid O’Dowd,CastleFuels 085 762 5016

Vets:

Mid-Kerry Vetinerary Centre, Milltown 066 976 7000

General advice:

Important that everyone stay tuned to both Radio and TV for ongoing updates from Government/HSE/National Agencies etc. Follow advice from official sources only!

Voluntary helpline:

Living alone and need further advice or assisstance phone Keel Community Council helpline number 1pm to 4pm 066 717 4066

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This service is an initiative by Keel Co