Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Joint Committee On Health

Mental Health Services: Samaritans Ireland

Mr. Rory Fitzgerald:

That is another good question. There is turnover. It is said that if a volunteer stays for two years, he or she will stay for a long time. In my branch in Waterford, we have one volunteer who has been there since we opened in 1976. There is turnover, though, and that might be estimated at 20%. We struggled through Covid-19 because, as was mentioned, about 40% were out and we were not training new people. There was a gap of more than a year in that area. It is a tough role. One of the important issues for us is to mind our volunteers. We have good systems in place in respect of daily supports in the branch and we also have day leaders outside the branch. We must mind our people because they are no good to anybody if they are not fit to take calls and to support people.

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