Author: sconnolly2

Wellbeing: ‘In This Together’
The joint DOH, HSE campaign continues to give mental health and wellbeing advice across the country and local authorities through Healthy Ireland are also rolling it out on a regional basis.
New videos covering the following topics have been added here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKnppf81g7anACu4znMeHsA/videos?view_as=subscriber

1. Tips when visiting your GP, Dr John O’Brien, GP

https://youtu.be/tgHAYEuNTeI

2. Staying safe in your home – Sgt Graham Kavanagh, An Garda Siochana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_GHlDitwLo

3. Managing Sleep Difficulties, Daniel Flynn, HSE

https://youtu.be/KmD5KpAQs7w

 

Other resources/campaigns:

A new National Bereavement Support Line
The Irish Hospice Foundation, in conjunction with the HSE, has set up a new National Bereavement Support Line to provide connection, comfort and support to those grieving in these exceptional times.
It is a freephone service and will be open from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, starting from today, Tuesday 9 June.
The number to call is 1800 80 70 77. Please find more information on:
https://hospicefoundation.ie/bereavement-2-2/bereavement-support-line/
The service will provide a confidential space for people to speak about their experience with personnel specifically trained to provide bereavement support and information.
It is anticipated that the Line will be used by health care staff seeking support too.
It is staffed by Irish Hospice Foundation and HSE personnel and volunteers.

HSE Launches Study to Investigate COVID-19 Infection in People Living in Ireland (SCOPI)

The HSE is issuing letters to more than 5,000 people inviting them to participate in the study to measure exposure to COVID-19 infection in the population using an antibody blood test. The presence of antibodies indicates that a person was infected with the COVID-19 virus. Initial results are expected in late August and will enable HPSC to estimate prevalence of infection of COVID-19 in the population across different age groups. A representative sample of people in both Dublin and Sligo will be invited to participate as it will be representative of the wider population, with higher and lower known levels of infection respectively. Those who consent to take part in the study will be asked to complete a short questionnaire and will provide a blood sample taken by a phlebotomist in a local HSE centre.

 

Government Roadmap

The Government’s roadmap for reopening society and business can be found here.

 

Please also check here for the most up to date partner resources for COVID-19.

 

Public Health Information: As always, for the most up to date information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to:

Department of Health DOH:                                  https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c36c85-covid-19-coronavirus/

Health Service Executive HSE:                         https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/

Health Protection Surveillance Centre HPSC:         https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/

 

Supports available through Local Enterprise Offices- What You Need to Know

Mentoring supports from your Local Enterprise Office – 

https://youtu.be/KJIZQUBl0FM

Financial Grants from your Local Enterprise Office 

https://youtu.be/GG3sCgRygpI

Online Training & Development supports from your Local Enterprise Office

https://youtu.be/DRw3bQej81c

The Trading Online Voucher from your Local Enterprise Office

https://youtu.be/VWymj3ezbdw

All playground have now reopened.

Children using playgrounds are to be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

The following rules apply:

Funding boost for Trading Online Vouchers in Monaghan welcomed by the Local Enterprise Office

Local Enterprise Office Monaghan has welcomed the announcement this week by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD and Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Richard Bruton TD of a major expansion of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme to help small and micro enterprises in Monaghan get online quickly.

The national Scheme is being expanded by €14.2m after the 31 Local Enterprise Offices received 3 years’ worth of applications in 3 months following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ireland. Following a previous expansion of the Scheme in early April, total additional funding for the Scheme is now almost €20m in 2020.

Small businesses can claim up to €5,000 in two grants worth €2,500 each. The Scheme also facilitates subscriptions to low-cost online retailing platform solutions to quickly establish a retailing presence online.

Minister Humphreys said: “There has been unprecedented demand for the Trading Online Voucher Scheme since the outbreak of COVID-19. To put this into perspective, in 2019, there were 1,218 applications for the Scheme; this year, between mid-March and early-June alone, there were 3,962, representing three years’ worth of applications in less than three months. The Scheme is an essential part of our Covid-19 business supports for small businesses, and it is vital that we continue to make it available for enterprises to meet the ongoing trading challenges. Thousands of small businesses across the country have already benefitted from funding under the scheme. The additional funding which we are announcing today will mean that total funding for the scheme has been increased by almost 1000%.”

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Richard Bruton TD, said: “Now more than ever enterprises are relying on their online capabilities to interact with their customers. With this additional funding we will be able to provide approximately 7,700 vouchers this year to small businesses, compared to 1,200 last year. This funding will provide crucial support in these very challenging times. It will also ensure that enterprises are building the capacity now which will see them well positioned to take advantage of the digital transformation into the future, as more and more consumers take their business online.”

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is open to small businesses in most sectors that have been trading for at least six months, employ up to ten people with a turnover of less than €2 million annually.

Further information about the Trading Online Voucher, including eligibility criteria, is available from www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Monaghan

https://youtu.be/VWymj3ezbdw

Irish Water issues National Water Conservation Order in a bid to safeguard supply for essential purposes

Irish Water has confirmed that a National Water Conservation Order commonly referred to as a hosepipe ban will be in place from Tuesday 9 June until Tuesday 21 July. Four weeks ago, Irish Water urged the public to choose handwashing over power washing as domestic water usage increased as people stayed at home in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Now, the increased domestic demand and increase in commercial demand as businesses are reopening is being exacerbated by warm weather and the widespread emergence of drought conditions.

The Water Conservation Order has been issued in a bid to safeguard water supplies for essential purposes. Advertisements will appear in the national papers today (Monday 8 June) in line with statutory requirements outlining the prohibition of the use of garden hoses and other non-essential uses of water.

Met Eireann has confirmed that May 2020 was the driest since 1850. Their data shows that temperatures were above average in nearly all areas and rainfall totals in every county were below average for the season, with the Greater Dublin Area, Westmeath, Sligo and Tipperary experiencing their driest spring on record.   Since March, Irish Water has been carefully monitoring all of its raw water sources, that is the water from lakes, rivers, springs and ground sources that feed our water treatment plants. Of Irish Water’s 900 drinking water schemes, 27 currently are in drought and 50 are at risk of going into drought.  The weather forecast is for a continuation of drier than normal conditions which will further exacerbate the situation.

Irish Water’s data shows dramatic spikes of water usage on very sunny days. During the June Bank holiday, the exceptionally warm saw an equivalent daily increase of water usage for an additional 200,000 people being used in the Greater Dublin Area. This increase in demand was replicated across the country. Given the current pressures on the water sources, this level of demand cannot be accommodated in the coming weeks.

The amount of rainfall needed to replenish supplies varies around the country and is site specific however Irish Water estimate that a minimum accumulation of 100mm rainfall spread over a number of weeks would be required and normal rainfall levels after that before the threat to water sources would pass.

The Conservation Order prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential uses of water by domestic users and commercial premises for non-commercial activities for example watering gardens attached to a business premises. The Water Conservation Order (hosepipe ban) will be in place until midnight on Tuesday 21 July.

Niall Gleeson, Managing Director of Irish Water, says: “Irish Water’s top priority during the current dry period is to protect our water supply for use in homes and businesses and for essential sanitation during the Covid-19 crisis. As demand continues to outstrip supply and the dry weather looks set to continue, Irish Water has taken the extra step of implementing a Water Conservation Order.

“It is very clear from Irish Water’s data that that warm weather creates a surge in demand of water. Such weather brings people into their gardens and makes the use of hoses more likely. Similarly with children confined to home, it can be tempting to use paddling pools etc., however, using a hosepipe for one hour is the equivalent of the daily water usage of an average family and this is evidently a non-essential use of water.”

”Irish Water will continue to analyse water consumption levels nationally while the National Water Conservation Order is in place. It is essential that our water supply is protected if we are to avoid restrictions and outages over the coming weeks and months.”

“During this time we are supporting and advising our commercial large water users on their conservation efforts and we are grateful for all of the measures they have taken so far. We are also working with our Local Authority partners and others to ramp up leak detection and repair, particularly in water stressed areas.”

“There are lots of helpful tips for conserving water on water.ie but the key messages are to leave the hose and the pressure washer in the shed; don’t use paddling pools; reuse household water for the garden; and take shorter showers. Safeguarding the supply of water is essential at this time when handwashing and hygiene is of critical importance. We are calling on everyone to play their part.”

Enhancement works recently completed at the Big Tom Statue, Muckno Street, Castleblayney.

A special delivery for Professor Sam Mc Conkey’s Mammy

Monaghan Age Friendly Programme and Monaghan Gardai made a special delivery to Margaret Mc Conkey, Professor Sam Mc Conkey’s mother who is currently cocooning in county Monaghan. Killeevan native Sam, is Head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Professor Mc Conkey has become a regular contributor on the Covid 19 pandemic in the national media in recent months.   Mrs Mc Conkey was delighted to receive the Monaghan Age Friendly Cocooning Activity Pack, which was delivered by Brenda Clerkin Monaghan Age Friendly Programme, Sergeant Mick Duffy and Garda Margaret Oliphant who have delivered over 4500 activity packs across county Monaghan. The 64-page colourful fun filled activity pack has plenty for people to enjoy at their leisure. There are wordsearches, quizzes, riddles, games, songs, stories and poems in the pack. There is lots of information too on different services and supports available to older people in the county. Giving the pack  a very Monaghan feel it includes  messages of support from some well-known Monaghan, including the now very well known Professsor Sam Mc Conkey.

Monaghan Age Friendly Programme was delighted when Sam responded to the call for contributions to an activity pack for cocooners in County Monaghan.

Age Friendly Manager for Monaghan County Council said “We reached out to some well-known Monaghan people to contribute to the pack, the response was so positive and supportive, we are so grateful they took the time to send a message to the  older people of the county”.

The cocooning activity pack, which also includes messages from GAA All-star Conor Mc Manus,  Ireland’s Rugby star Tommy Bowe,  Irish Times journalist Frank Mc Nally and legendary Jazz musician Paddy Cole.

The Activity pack has been distributed to over 5000 cocooners in County Monaghan and demand is so high that a reprint was ordered last week.  Monaghan Age Friendly Programme hopes the activity pack will give people a lift and a smile at this difficult time and expressed gratitude to the Age Friendly Alliance partners who contributed to the pack. We are extremely grateful also to Monaghan Garda and Monaghan GAA who are supporting us to deliver the packs throughout the county. The feedback is great, people are really enjoying it and that is what its all about.

Copies of the pack are available to download from Monaghan County Council website here: Monaghan Age Friendly Cocooning Activity Pack (PDF)

and hard copies can be requested by contacting:

Bernie Bradley

Age Friendly Programme Manager

087 6443332

Bbradley@monaghancoco.ie

One of the projects supported by the Monaghan County Council Covid-19 Emergency Fund was the provision of IT Tablets to all HSE care homes and support provided to others right across the county to facilitate contact between residents and family members that had not been possible due to physical distancing requirements.

HSE:

‘On behalf of Cavan/Monaghan Mental Health Service and the residents of the New Blackwater House, I wish to thank you for your kind donation of Samsung Tablet. The tablet has already been used to link residents with their families, this has been an invaluable resource particularly when family members are unable to visit at this time. ‘

 

Picture above shows Fintan McPhillips, MCC, presenting one of the Samsung tablets to HSE Principal Social Worker Orla Curran.

Picture above shows staff receiving one of the tablets at New Blackwater House

Monaghan Age Friendly Programme coming up trumps for cocooners!

As part of our ongoing support to older people in the community Monaghan Age Friendly Programme has produced a Cocooning Activity Pack to keep the cocooners in the county entertained. Age Friendly Programme manager Bernie Bradley said “The Covid 19 pandemic has had a significant impact on everyone, put it has particularly impacted on the over 70s who have been asked to stay at home. Cocooning is for everyone’s benefit but there is no question that it is challenging, isolating and lonely for many”

The Monaghan Age Friendly Programme has been working hard since government restrictions came into force to find innovative ways to reach out to people who are isolated due to the health crisis.

The It’s Good to Talk GAA initiative with Monaghan GAA has been an enormous success with over 80 people across the county receiving a call from Monaghan GAA stars.  The support from Monaghan GAA to reach out to our older people has been wonderful.
Monaghan Age Friendly Programme also introduced “Interview your Grandparents” Programme encouraging families to reach out to their cocooning family members and ask them some interesting questions to find out more about their lives.

The latest initiative is a 64-page colourful fun filled activity pack for people to enjoy at their leisure.  The pack is printed booklet, so internet access or skills are not needed to enjoy the pack.

There are wordsearches, quizzes, riddles, games, songs, stories and poems in the pack. There is lots of information too on different services and supports available to older people in the county. And for a very Monaghan feel a few messages of support from some well-known Monaghan people.

Bernie said “We reached out to some well-known Monaghan people to contribute to the pack, the response was so positive and supportive, we are so grateful they took the time to send a message to the older people of the county”

Bernie hopes the pack will give people a lift and a smile at this difficult time and expressed gratitude to the Age Friendly Alliance partners who contributed to the pack. We are extremely grateful also to Monaghan Garda and Monaghan GAA who are supporting to deliver the backs throughout the county.

Copies of the pack are available to download from Monaghan County Council website here:

Monaghan Age Friendly Cocooning Activity Pack (PDF)

and hard copies can be requested by contacting:

Bernie Bradley

Age Friendly Programme Manager

087 6443332

 

Re-Opening Buildings after Covid-19 Restrictions: Safety of Water & Wastewater Systems in Non-Domestic Buildings

Irish Water Re-Opening Buildings after Covid-19 Restrictions: Safety of Water & Wastewater Systems in Non-Domestic Buildings (PDF)