Sinn Féin Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has welcomed the intervention of the South Dublin COVID-19 group after a breakdown of a promised food parcel delivery system to financially poor families by An Post.

Thousands of families were expecting to receive the dry goods parcels over Easter weekend, but this didn’t happen for many schools and the families that needed the parcels.

The original plan was for food parcels were to go the families of children who normally would receive a breakfast under the school completion programme.

Deputy Crowe said:

“I want to welcome the timely intervention of South Dublin COVID-19 and their volunteers over the weekend which allowed some schools to get deliveries of promised food parcels to needy families.

“The row between An Post, The Department of Education, School Management and a number of Food Distribution companies left thousands of financially poor families without promised food parcels over the weekend.

“An Post are saying that they can only deliver a small number across the country, but in most urban areas like Dublin the system has collapsed with families having to go without as the Department of Education blame school management, An Post blame the School Principals and the Food distributors, while thousands of food parcels were left in different food distribution warehouses.

“The Department of Education were still briefing my party and others this weekend and saying An Post were delivering these parcels when the reality is different particularly in urban areas.

“Poor families and hungry children were the real losers in this row.

“The COVID group and its volunteers have given the lead and arranged deliveries in a number of areas across the south Dublin area but unfortunately there are still many others who been let down by the An Post.

“I want to thank everyone who responded and helped ease the burden for some of these families who are finding it difficult to put food on the table for their loved ones.

“Well done to South Dublin Covid-19.”