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Local Authorities’ Role in Response to Pandemic ‘Vital’, says Minister Burke

• - Retail areas and public spaces safer for Christmas shopping due to local authorities’ work and collaboration with businesses, says Minister
• - Minister Burke visits Kilkenny and Cork to thank local authority staff and speak to businesses who have benefited from their supports

The Minister for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke TD, has described local authorities’ role in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic to date as vital. He was speaking during a visit to Kilkenny and Cork to thank local authority staff for their work and visit businesses who have benefited from local authorities’ supports.

The local authorities have provided a range of economic and social supports in response to challenges arising from the pandemic. These have included:

• €609 million in Restart Grants administered to businesses by the Local Enterprise Offices
• A Commercial Rates waiver to eligible businesses for the 9 months since the pandemic took hold in Ireland, supported by a €900 million special funding allocation from the Government 
• Handling approximately 59,000 calls through the Community Call helplines, with over 12,000 calls regarding collection and delivery, and over 11,000 calls regarding social isolation
• Providing befriending and outreach services as part of the Government’s ‘In this Together’ and ‘Keep Well’ campaigns, as well as arranging a variety of activities to keep community spirits lifted and the public active during the pandemic
• Adaptations to services including library services, contributing to over 40,000 new members registering for access to eBooks and eAudiobooks between April and October – a 129% increase on the previous year

Speaking during his visit to Kilkenny and Cork Minister Burke said: “In a year like no other, the local authorities have played a vital role in the national response to the crisis: through supports for their local economy; social assistance for individuals and communities, and swift changes to how they deliver services.

“Local businesses throughout the country have had a very difficult year. Through the Local Enterprise Offices, works to make public spaces safer, and collaboration with businesses to facilitate new ways of trading, local authorities have gone to great lengths to protect their local economy. Retail areas and public spaces are safer for Christmas shopping due to local authorities’ work and collaboration with businesses.

“The Community Call, in partnership with ALONE and the Community and Voluntary sector, has been vital in supporting society’s most vulnerable and isolated. Local authorities’ commitment to keeping amenities like public parks and library services accessible whilst safe, along with other initiatives, have supported citizens’ mental and physical wellbeing at this time. And whilst meeting these challenges they have maintained essential services, like those for the homeless, administration of the planning system and work on water quality.”

Minister Burke concluded: “I want to thank each and every local authority staff member and the elected members for their hard work, commitment and agility during the pandemic. I am proud to salute their contribution to the national response.”

Ends

Notes to editor

Supports to Businesses

• Local authorities have provided a range of supports to businesses. These have included:
  • the administration of €609 million in Restart Grants; €28.3 million in Trading Online Vouchers (from 01 January to 02 December) and €25.8 million in Business Continuity Vouchers (from 01 January to 02 December)
  • a waiver of Commercial Rates for eligible businesses for the 9 months since the pandemic took hold in Ireland, supported by a €900m special funding allocation from the Government
  • works to develop, reimagine and accommodate new ways of utilising the public realm in towns and villages – these have included facilitating outdoor dining; waiving licence fees for on-street furniture; making best use of public space. Additional space has been allocated to pedestrians and shoppers to allow for social distancing and implementing measures to support active travel. Local authorities have worked with retailers and others to ensure appropriate signage in relation to public health requirements.

Supports to Communities

• The Community Call response in each local authority has coordinated practical supports, such as the collection and delivery of essential food and medicines to those in need. They have also provided support for those experiencing isolation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the helplines have received approximately 59,000 calls, approximately 12,000 of which related to collections and deliveries, 11,000 to social isolation and 4,000 to meals services.
• More information on the work done by the Community Call Fora (including data at forum – local authority area - level), ALONE and other partners, is available on the Community Call data hub: https://community-call-covid-19-geohive.hub.arcgis.com/ 
• As central partners in the Government’s ‘In this Together’ and ‘Keep Well’ campaigns, they have activated befriending and outreach services and arranged a huge variety of activities for the mental, physical and cultural wellbeing of citizens.
• Among the services that local authorities have adapted to adhere to public health guidelines and the public’s circumstances are library services. Online library service subscribers can now immediately access eBooks, audiobooks, online newspapers, magazines and e-learning courses. The on-the-ground relationships between library staff and customers have allowed them to develop a range of innovative and considered responses such as book delivery services, moving annual event programmes online, online streaming of ‘Storytime’ and providing a ‘Contact and Collect’ service. 
• Changes to the registration process resulted in an upsurge in membership and an increased demand for online resources. From April to October 2020, users borrowed 1,063,187 eBooks and eAudiobooks - a 131% increase on 2019. More than 40,000 new members registered for access to eBooks and eAudiobooks – a 129% increase on the previous year.