#Covid19 Information On Health, Employment, Wellbeing, Community & Business Contacts & Supports.

The government has published its 57 page National Covid 19 Action Plan, which is attached to this article, or available for download here

An emergency bill was approved during an incorporeal meeting of Cabinet on March 17th. It was debated in the Dáil and Seanad and signed in to law on March 26th; you can read it here

As and from midnight on March 27th, people are advised to stay in their homes. New public health measures, in effect until April 12th, are:

Community Health

Stay at home in all circumstances, except in the following situations:

Essential services

Health considerations

Transport and Travel

Travel restrictions will be implemented as folloes

Legislation and Regulation

HEALTH

The HSE has issued wide-ranging advice on Covi19:

KDOC - Doctors on Call is the out of hours GP service for member practices in Kildare and West Wicklow - 1890 599 362.

The Irish College of General Practitioners has published a list of Kildare GPs, along with their contact details here

WELLBEING

Mental Health Ireland has a range of well-being resources, which you can find here

If you need  mental health support, support, MHI advises that you make contact with your GP.

In addition, it has also puiblished helpline and support group information here

Samaritans, Newbridge, offers a listening service on 116 123

Women's Aid offers services and supports to women and children subjected to domestic abuse. The helpline number is 1800 341 900

AnyMan Ireland offers services and supports to men subjected to domestic abuse., The helpline number is: 01 554 3811.

Many people who are self-isolating or remote working may find that their physical activity levels drop.

And, in particular, a lack of activity among older or more vulnerable people may leave them at greater risk of developing a respiratory illness.

This is as a lack of activity may mean people's core body temperature drops.

Rob McCabe, of McCabe Physiotherapy, joined Clem Ryan on Kildare Today with advice on staying active in the home.

HOUSING

Rent increases have been frozen for three months, and tenants may not be evicted. You can read the bill here

The pillar banks may offer breaks of up to three months to mortgage payment, on application.

Kildare County Council's rents are based on a system called the 'Differential Rent Scheme'.  This means that rent is based on your ability to pay, so if your income in low, your rent will be low and if your income increases, so will your rent. The income of other members of the household will be added to the rent calculation and there may be deductions for any children in the family. 

It is important to note that if the income of any member of the family changes, you must notify Kildare County Council immediately.  Failure to notify the council may result as a breach of your tenancy agreement.

Please click the link below to download a Rent Assessment Form.  This needs to be completed and returned to the Rent Assessment Section, Kildare County Council at the address below or emailed to rentassessment@kildarecoco.ie. 

Kildare County Council has made the following changes to its Housing Dept. operations:

• HAP Walk in Clinic is suspended until further notice.  HAP application forms can be requested by email: hap@kildarecoco.ie or telephone 045 980657. Information is available online and includes a checklist to assist HAP applicants.
• Application forms for Social Housing, Rent Review (including HAP Tenants), Housing Adaptation, Mobility and Aid for Older Persons Grants, are available online. Copies of all Application Forms are also available at Customer Services.   
• Housing Maintenance essential repairs and urgent emergencies can be reported by telephoning 045 980 200 and Out of Hours: 1 890 50 03 33

ACCESSING SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENT

An Post has put special arrangements in place for customers in receipt of Social Welfare payments.

Money can now be collected by a friend or relative on behalf of the person it's for.

The alternative collectors will have to be nominated and present valid ID, as well as the recipient's card from the Department of Employment Affairs.

Nomination forms are available in the Post Office and, also, here

Angus Laverty in An Posts Public Affairs Director and joined Clem Ryan on Kildare Today.

CITIZENS INFORMATION SERVICES

All Kildare Citizens Information Services are closed for public drop in until the 30th of March.

However, services have been consolidated in to two offices, which are operating phone and email services:

Maynooth CIC:

Phone: 0761 07 8100

email: maynooth@citinfo.ie

Naas CIC:

Phone: 0761 07 8280

email: naas@citinfo.ie

Joan O'Connor is Development Manager in Kildare for the North Leinster Citizens Information Service.

She joined Clem Ryan on Kildare Today

SUPPORTS FOR OLDER PEOPLE

HOUSING

All private sector rent increases and evictions have been banned for the next three months, following a sitting of the Dáil on March 19th.

Kildare County Council is moving to reassure its over 3,500 social housing tenants, and the thousands of households in Kildare in receipt of HAP.

Ihe council says it " is aware that many tenants may be affected by the recent employment losses and changes to working conditions adversely impacting household incomes. Differential rents are calculated on the basis of household income, consequently if your primary income has now reduced so too will your rent. "

However, rents will have to be reassessed, which means tenants will have to submit a Rent Review Form; these can be downloaded here: http://kildare.ie/countycouncil/housing/HousingRents/

It can be submitted, by email, to rentassessment@kildarecoco.ie or sent in by post to KCC's Housing Department, Rents Section, at Aras Cill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas. People can also call 045-98075 for help.

REVENUE

Revenue will refund employers who continue paying staff they lay off 203 euro per week.

Companies who keep staff on the payroll but can't offer full wages, can instead pay the 203 euro, which is equal to the Covid-19 support payment.

The department says it will help maintain a link between employers and their staff and make a return to work more seamless.

Among the other measures announced by Revenue include postponing stamp duty on credit cards to July, and deferring Local Property Tax payments to May.

In addition, a range of measures have been announced to assist SMEs

Joe Howley is Collector General at the Revenue Commissioners, and has been speaking to Clem Ryan on Kildare Today.

EMPLOYEES

There are several supports now in place for people whose employment has been affected by Covid 19.

These are available for people whose employers can't continue to pay them during a COVID-19 (Coronavirus) related absence or temporary lay-off from work:

Gov.ie and Welfare.ie have published advice and documentation: