Retail Resources for Vulnerable Customers During coronavirus

Last reviewed: Jul 6
Many retailers across the country have introduced priority shopping hours and other supports for elderly and vulnerable customers during COVID-19.
The Irish Cancer Society welcomes these measures to protect and support the most vulnerable in our communities.
While some stores offer an online shopping and grocery delivery service, these services can be oversubscribed and it can be difficult to access a delivery slot. If you require assistance with grocery and medication delivery or other errands, please call your local authority Community Call helpline to request support. Full list of Community Call numbers is here:
Centra
Centra is offering an online shopping service in a number of stores. Customers can order groceries and either pick-up in store or have them delivered.
Aldi
Priority shopping for older and vulnerable customers from 11am to 1pm daily.
An Post
Check-in on vulnerable people
Postal delivery staff will check in on older and vulnerable customers along their postal routes on a weekly basis.
You can request a check-in from a postal worker for yourself or somebody else at https://www.anpost.com/Community-Support/Request-a-Check-In
Mail pick-up service
Postmen and women will also pick up any mail or parcels you might have and post it for free. Simply put a sign in your window that says I HAVE MAIL and the postal staff will collect it on their route.
Social Welfare Payments
Customers who usually collect their social welfare payment at their local post office can now nominate a person (Temporary Agent) to collect the payment on their behalf. When collecting the payment, a Temporary Agent must show the welfare recipient’s public service card as well as their own valid photo I.D. e.g. passport, driving licence or public service card. To nominate a Temporary Agent, the welfare recipient must complete a form, which is available from the Post Office or can be downloaded at https://www.anpost.com/AnPost/media/PDFs/Appointment-of-Temporary-Agent.pdf
Newspaper Delivery
An Post now delivers newspapers daily during the coronavirus crisis. You can subscribe to your newspaper of choice and An Post will deliver the newspaper. For elderly and vulnerable customers the delivery of the newspaper is free.
Learn more at https://www.anpost.com/Community-Support/Newspaper-deliveries
Dunnes
Priority shopping for older and vulnerable customers from 11am to 1pm daily.
https://www.dunnesstores.com/content/designated-shopping-times-for-the-elderly
Iceland
Priority shopping for over 65s from 8am to 9am daily.
Certain Iceland stores also offer free home delivery when you shop in-store and a dial deliver service is available in certain areas.
Lidl
Priority shopping for older and vulnerable customers 9am to 11am daily.
Marks & Spencer
Priority shopping for older and vulnerable customers during the first hour of trading on Mondays and Thursdays.
Priority shopping for HSE workers during the first hour of trading on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Supervalu
Many Supervalu stores have a tailored approach in place according to the specific needs of the local community they serve, including dedicated hours and checkouts for vulnerable customers. Please contact your local Supervalu to learn more.
Supervalu Online Shopping - Free home delivery with a spend of €50. Customers can also avail of ‘click and collect’ with no extra charge.
Tesco
Dedicated shopping times for older people, medically vulnerable customers and family carers up to 9am Monday to Friday.
Healthcare and care workers, emergency services personnel and Community Call volunteers receive priority access at all other times.
Tesco is supporting Ireland’s Community Call, giving priority access to volunteers, free multi-shop trolley bags and card payments facilitated over the phone if required.
Working to maximse Grocery Home Shopping by asking customers to ‘Think before you click” to help those most vulnerable to access delivery slots.
Tesco is prioritising home delivery for those over 65.
Free home delivery for customers over 65 (minimum purchase of €50 required)
Call: 1800 248 123
https://food-and-community.tesco.ie/home/our-little-helps/how-tos/free-delivery-over-65s/
New additional free Click and Collect collection points across the country.
Further information: http://www.tescoireland.ie/covid-19
Community Call Helplines | |||||
Local Authority | Covid Support Tel. | Covid Support Email | Text Line | Opening Hours | |
Carlow County Council | 1800 814 300 | covidsupport@carlowcoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Cavan County Council | 1800 300 404 | covidsupport@cavancoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Clare County Council | 1890 252 943 | covidsupport@clarecoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Cork City Council | 1800 222 226 | covidsupport@corkcity.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Cork County Council | 1800 805 819 | covidsupport@corkcoco.ie | Text 085 870 9010 | 8am-8pm | |
Donegal County Council | 1800 928 982 | covidsupport@donegalcoco.ie | 9am-5pm | ||
Dublin City Council | 01 222 8555 | covidsupport@dublincity.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council | 01 271 3199 | covidsupport@dlrcoco.ie | 9am - 5pm | ||
Fingal County Council | 01 890 5000 | covidsupport@fingal.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Galway City Council | 1800 400 150 | covidsupport@galwaycity.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Galway County Council | 1800 928 894 | covidsupport@galwaycoco.ie | 9am-6pm | ||
Kerry County Council | 1800 807 009 | covidsupport@kerrycoco.ie | Text: SUPPORT + name to 50555 | 8am-8pm | |
Kildare County Council | 045 980 202/1800 300 174 | covidsupport@kildarecoco.ie | 9am - 5pm | ||
Kilkenny County Council | 1800 500 000 | covidcommunity@kilkennycoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Laois County Council | 1800 832 010 | covidsupport@laoiscoco.ie | 9am-8pm | ||
Leitrim County Council | 071 965 0473/1800 852 389 | covidsupport@leitrimcoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Limerick City & County Council | 1800 832 005 | covidsupport@limerick.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Longford County Council | 043 3344 255 | covidsupport@longfordcoco.ie | 9am-5pm | ||
Louth County Council | 1800 805 817 | covid19@louthcoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Mayo County Council | 094 906 4660 | covidsupport@mayococo.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Meath County Council | 1800 808 809 | covidsupport@meathcoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Monaghan County Council | 1800 804 158 | info@monaghancoco.ie | Text: HELP to 50555 | 9am-5pm | |
Offaly County Council | 1800 818 181 | covidsupport@offalycoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Roscommon County Council | 1800 200 727 | covidsupport@roscommoncoco.ie | 24hrs | ||
Sligo County Council | 1800 292 765 | covidsupport@sligococo.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
South Dublin County Council | 01 414 9043/1800 240 519 | covidsupport@sdublincoco.ie | 9am-5pm | ||
Tipperary County Council | 076 106 5000 | covid19@tipperarycoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Waterford City & County Council | 1800 250 185 | covidsupport@waterfordcouncil.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Westmeath County Council | 1800 805 816 | covidsupport@westmeathcoco.ie | 9am-5pm | ||
Wexford County Council | 053 919 6000 | covidsupport@wexfordcoco.ie | 8am-8pm | ||
Wicklow County Council | 1800 868 399 | covidsupport@wicklowcoco.ie | 8am-8pm |
The Irish Cancer Society continues to be available to provide support and information on this matter or any other queries related to cancer through its Freephone Support Line on 1800 200 700, or through any of its 13 hospital-based Daffodil Centres around the country.
For more information
Phone
1800 200 700