Useful Contacts and Resources During Covid-19 Crisis
Health information
Many public health leaflets and sharing resources available in a variety of languages and easy read language from the Health Service Executive. (link)
The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) has compiled a list of words about COVID-19 with plain English explanations which you may find useful. Click here to access the resource.
Mental Health
Mental Health Reform has collected a list of Mental Health Services & Supports during Covid-19, including services available by telephone and online (link)
Sexual Health
The HSE has a free counselling service for unplanned pregnancies. Their appointments have moved to telephone and online. You can contact them by Freephone 1800 828 010 or by visiting their website at myoptions.ie.
Abortion services will continue to be provided. During the current COVID-19 public health emergency, it may not be possible or suitable for you to attend a doctor in person to access abortion services. You may have your pre-abortion consultation by phone or video link with a doctor. Find out more information on myoptions.ie.
As with all health–related advice during the crisis, the best thing we can do to keep ourselves safe right now is to distance ourselves socially, and avoid close contact with others. SHCPP have information on reducing the risk of coronavirus during sex. (link)
Social Welfare
The Department of Employment and Social Affairs frequently updates their website with the latest information on welfare payments and eligibility. Latest updates from DEASP (link)
Nasc has a good page explaining information on Social Welfare payments (link:Nasc)
Note: the Department of Employment and Social Affairs has agree to set up a “firewall” with the Department of Justice, and will not share the data of any undocumented people seeking healthcare or social welfare supports during the crisis.
Direct Provision
The Department of Justice website offers information for residents of accommodation centres during the Covid-19 crisis. accommodationcentres.ie/covid-19/
IPAS and HSE have been working on cocooning the most vulnerable residents (over 65s and people with complex medical conditions). If you have a medical condition that requires consideration and have not already made contact, please e-mail socialinclusion@hse.ie with details of your case.
Immigration
The Department of Justice is updating it’s website frequently with temproary changes to citizenship and immigraiton procedures and processing during the crisis. You can view the lates updates here (link) and read an FAQ here (link).
Residents whose Temporary Residence Card (TRC) or ‘Blue Card’ is due to expire shortly should automatically receive a renewal card in the post from the International Protection Office (IPO).
Temporary Residence Card Expiring
Important: If you have recently moved from your accommodation centre to a new location, please contact the manager at your previous centre to ensure any post is forwarded to your new location – or please provide the details to your new centre manager and ask them to contact the manager of your previous centre. This is to ensure that your replacement card reaches you as there is a possibility it may have been sent to your old address.
Residents who have concerns about their replacement card should contact the IPO customer help desk by email at info@ipo.gov.ie.
Please note that the IPO is currently unable to issue renewal cards to people in person at our public office in Dublin. This is due to Government measures on social distancing and restriction of movement during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland is keeping its helpline open during the crisis. (link)
Gardaí
The Gardaí have developed crime prevention advice during Covid. You can read the advice here on the AkiDwA website (link) or over at garda.ie
Racism
Any racist incidents can be reported to the Gardaí to investigate and follow up. www.garda.ie
Additionlly, INAR collects information and records racist incidents in Ireland through their iReport website. This does not replace a formal complaint to the authorities but allows racist incidents to be monitored and collected. (link)
Domestic Violence
Women’s Aid helpline is still availble 24/7 in English and from 8am-8pm in over 170 languages with their Telephone Interpretation Service. If you are experiencing abuse in the home during the crisis, please reach out to Women’s Aid for support and information on seeking safety. Call 1800 341 900 or visit their website. (link)
If you or your family are in immediate danger, please contact the Gardaí.
Housing
Peter Mc verry Trust continue to support DP residents to find housing of their own. Plus they are providing additional social care supports during the crisis. (link)
If you are experiencing difficulty with your rental accommodation, Threshold provides advice to renters on their rights. (link)
Self-isolation Facilities for International Protection Applicants
The Department of Jsutice have been working with the HSE and with some non-profit organisations (such as the Peter McVerry Trust) to establish self-isolation facilities. They have opened centres in Dublin and Cork. This week self-isolation centres will open in Limerick and Dundalk and there will be centres in place in Galway and Waterford shortly.
These facilities are for:
- Any resident who needs to self-isolate because they have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Any resident who needs to self-isolate because they have a diagnosis of COVID-19.
- Any resident who has been treated in hospital for COVID-19 and discharged to recover further.
Residents in these units will be provided with psycho-social supports for the duration of their say.
Resources for Children
The Department of Education and Skills and the Irish office of UNHCR have kindly provided some educational resources for children to help keep them busy during this period. This link to a children’s story aims to explain COVID-19 in child friendly terms: My Hero is You, Storybook for Children on COVID-19.pdf
Movement Breaks
- Joe Wicks (The Body Coach) has excellent videos for kids that are short (5-8 minutes) and suitable for home. There are 3 playlists dedicated to children! He is also hosting PE lessons everyday.
- Get active challenge – Keep a record of how many levels you do each day! If you do not have a space large enough to make a square to run around, you could run on the spot for 10 seconds for level 1, 20 seconds for level 2 etc.
- During these uncertain times, children would benefit from some Mindfulness and Yoga. There are some great resources on You Tube. Here is an example:
Other Online Resources
In the leaflets below, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment provides a summary of what your child learns at each class level in school, as well as some general tips and advice as to what you can do to continue this learning at home. However, it is important not to put yourself under too much pressure – home schooling is very challenging at the best of times. We hope you find the links below helpful.
www.scoilnet.ie – Official Education portal of the DES, curriculum focused resources to both primary and post primary.
www.schooldays.ie – Primary School resources, information on useful apps, websites, etc.
Twinkl.ie is offering all parents and teachers a One Month FREE Ultimate Membership. This will allow parents and teachers unlimited access to every single resource (printable resources / powerpoints / games) for every single curriculum subject from junior infants to sixth class. Setting this up is really easy to do – go to www.twinkl.ie/offer and enter the code IRLTWINKLHELPS.
www.topmarks.co.uk is a further UK resource.
General Information and Help
Nasc Immigration Helpline is still open by whatsapp and available in French, Arabic, Russian and Portuguese. (link)
Irish Refugee services still open by telephone and email (link)
FLAC Telephone information Line still open if you have any legal questions and they have made factsheets on legal rights during Covid-19 crisis available on their website (link)
UNHCR has information on Covid-19 for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland. (link)
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