Community and voluntary organisations are currently making important preparations for reopening offices and facilities across Ireland.

In this context, a number of significant resources and public health guidance have been issued by Government, the HSE, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and others. These resources and supporting documentation are widely available to the community and voluntary sector and should be carefully considered and act as the basis for any COVID-19 related plans.

To help the community and voluntary sector, Pobal working with the Department of Rural and Community Development has prepared further guidance regarding re-opening safely.

The guidance is intended as a useful resource to help groups make their own decisions on the steps they need to take when preparing for reopening. The guidance does not put in place any new requirements, but instead shows how the information already out there is relevant to the community and voluntary sector.

While this guidance has been developed to help the sector, considerable emphasis should be placed on personal responsibility and the need for people and organisations to exercise judgement in their activities. This is especially important in the community and voluntary sector, given the varied nature of the activities being undertaken.

The webpage will be updated on a regular basis by Pobal, as further material becomes available or as per Government and Public Health advice.

It should help to assist and support organisations as they prepare individual plans for their own settings.

Access Pobal webpage here.

https://www.pobal.ie/reopeningyourservice/