Shannon Office

We have details of all the Clarecare services countywide, and can refer a member of the public to the appropriate person or service. Individual services links

• We keep details such as times and contact persons for A.A. and Al. Anon meetings, lists of counsellors, Information on Drug and Alcohol Treatment programmes and supports etc.
• Clarecare holiday house booking is done from the Shannon office. Various groups use the houses for social and community work, for holiday breaks for the elderly, work with Mental Health groups, training for Home Help workers etc. Clarecare staff members use the houses extensively for social work and family support work.
• The Shannon office is used extensively by Clarecare staff – Social workers, Family Support and Childcare workers, and by the Clarecare Home Care coordinator.
• We act as a contact point for the Christmas Hamper Scheme, which is run by the Lions Club in Shannon. We liaise with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on this.
• We network with, and maintain good working relationships with the Community Welfare Officers, the H.S.E., Social Welfare Officers, the Gardai, Clare Co. Council, and the Homeless Unit in Shannon. We liaise with MABS, and we refer clients to MABS, as MABS do to us.
• In common with the other Clarecare offices, we organise and facilitate the annual Church Gate collection. This includes recruiting and maintaining a panel of collectors from the area and the accounting and lodgement of funds collected.

• The Shannon Clarecare office incorporates a full-time Citizens Information Centre, part of the national network of Citizens Information Centres, supported and part funded by Comhairle. We deal with an average of 1,000 queries per month providing information, advice, advocacy and referral services on rights, services available, employment law and rights, entitlements and options available to people. This is a free and confidential service.
• We provide forms and booklets on all services and entitlements, and are available for form filling, and making contact with various agencies and government departments on behalf of our clients, as required.
• This C.I.C. has access to the T.D. Helpline on behalf of clients with queries on illness and disability. We also have a “hotline” to the Immigrant Council in Dublin. These greatly assist us to progress queries for our clients.
• We provide an advocacy service for the public as required eg we carry out appeals of adverse decisions by various government department with regard to payments and entitlements, we type letters and make phone calls for clients regarding their entitlements. We advise and facilitate clients in preparing cases for the Rights Commissioners, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, and the Ombudsman.
• We assist new nationals with information on work permits, lists of housing for rent, schools, and educational opportunities and on Social Welfare and H.S.E. payments.
• Extensive  and up to date database of local information.
• We play an important role as a feedback service to Comhairle, in our Social Policy work, and in doing so, in conjunction with other C.I.C’s, have sometimes influenced change for the better.
• We publish a popular “Rights column” in the local newspaper – the “Clare Courier”.
• This office has been, and continues to be, central to the growth and development of Shannon Town from its infancy. We have always prided ourselves on being adaptable, flexible, responsive to change, and open to new challenges as they arise. As such, we provide a very extensive list of services to the community.

• The Shannon Diary, is run as a Community Service, providing notices about classes, workshops, support groups in the area, activities and also lists of service persons, childminders, accommodation for rent, and small items for sale!. The Diary is delivered to each house in Shannon, and some Diaries are sent to outlying villages.
• Extensive lists of local groups and organisations.
• Up to date lists of rented housing, and details of various Clare Co. Council housing initiatives.
• Lists of doctors, dentists, schools, crèches, playschools, alternative therapists, clergy, and solicitors.
• Free Legal Advice Clinic facilitated by a panel of local solicitors; give their services free of charge.