COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information, advice & Council services

For the latest information and advice in relation to coronavirus, COVID-19, please visit the Public Health Agency’s website.

Up to date information and advice is also available at the NI Direct website.

• Council Services and access to facilities
• Support in your local community
• Advice and support for local businesses

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has applied the following measures to its services and facilities to limit the spread of the virus and to focus its resources on delivering essential Council services to residents and ratepayers.

During any closure of a Council building or facility, you can still speak to a member of staff by telephoning the Council on 0300 303 1777 (calls charged at local rate), Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm, or you can email info@fermanaghomagh.com.

Civic buildings and administrative offices
From Thursday 19 March 2020 the following offices are closed to the public:

– Townhall, Enniskillen
– County Buildings, Enniskillen (except by prior appointment to Register a Birth, Death, Marriage or Civil Partnership)
– Strule House, Omagh
– The Grange, Omagh (except by prior appointment to Register a Birth, Death, Marriage or Civil Partnership)
– Broadmeadow Centre, Enniskillen (former Visitor Information Centre)
– Killyvilly depot office, Enniskillen
– Gortrush works depot office, Omagh

Leisure Centres
From Sunday 16 March 2020 the Council’s four leisure centres closed to the public:

– Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown
– Castle Park Leisure Centre, Lisnaskea
– Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen
– Omagh Leisure Complex

Membership accounts have been frozen and monthly direct debit membership payments have been suspended.

Arts & cultural venues and visitor attractions
From Thursday 19 March 2020 the following venues are closed to the public:

– Strule Arts Centre, Omagh
– The Ardhowen, Enniskillen
– Enniskillen Castle
– Marble Arch Caves and Visitor Centre

Refunds will be made directly to ticket holders affected by cancellations.

Community centres
From Thursday 19 March 2020 the following community centres are closed to the public:

– CKS Community Centre, Omagh
– Strathroy Community Centre, Omagh
– Hospital Road Community Centre, Omagh
– West End Community Centre, Enniskillen

Council organised events
Council organised events which were due to take place up until 31 August 2020 have been postponed or cancelled.

Cuilcagh Boardwalk
Cuilcagh Boardwalk is closed until further notice.

Gortin Glens Forest Park
Closed to the public until further notice.

Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark
Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark is closed to the public until further notice. This includes Ely Lodge, Castle Archdale, Lough Navar, Castle Caldwell and Killykeegan.

Play areas
Closed to the public until further notice.

Public Parks
Public parks remain open to the public however will be kept under review. If visiting a public park you must follow the PHA’s social distancing guidelines.

Public conveniences
Currently closed to the public.

Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships

Birth Registrations
In line with Stay at Home advice birth registrations are suspended for 3 weeks with effect from 25 March 2020. Please email registrar@fermanaghomagh.com or phone 028 8225 6212 if you require advice.

Parents can continue to register their child at a GP practice during the suspension of the birth registration process. Parents should be advised that they will require the following information when they contact the GP practice:

1. Child’s Health & Care Number.
2. Full name child is to be registered as.
3. Home Address child will be residing at.

Death Registrations
From 27 March 2020, until further notice, death registrations will be carried out without the need to attend the local registration office.

Civil Ceremonies & Partnerships
We very much regret to advise that in light of the current situation with regard to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, civil ceremonies and partnerships scheduled with the Council up to 31 May 2020, will be postponed. Registration staff will be in contact with couples affected to make new arrangements.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will also facilitate couples whose ceremony has been previously booked after this date to reschedule to a date later in the year if they so wish.

The direct line for our Registration Service is 028 8225 6212, but please appreciate that we are experiencing a large number of calls and we will make contact as soon as possible.

Civic Amenity Sites & Recycling Centres
Due to unprecedented activity levels which is not in keeping with the Government advice to stay at home the Council’s recycling centres and civic amenity sites are temporarily closed to the public.

Household bin collection
We continue to work to minimise disruption to the waste collection service. However it is anticipated that services may be impacted over the coming weeks & months.

Please continue to present your bin on the designated day by 7am.

We would also ask that you wipe the handles of your wheeled bin before presentation at the kerbside and after your bin has been emptied.

Ensure you follow the official guidance nidirect on the safe bagging & collection of household waste if you have confirmed or possible coronavirus in your household. 

Bulky waste collection
The bulky waste collection service has been suspended from 3pm, Friday 20 March 2020 until further notice. We will make every effort to provide the service for those residents who have a prearranged collection. No new bookings will be accepted at this time.

Purchase of Bins
The purchase and collection of all wheeled bins has ceased until further notice.

Planning
The Planning office is closed until further notice and is unable to process any new planning applications. Agents and applicants are advised not to submit applications until normal business resumes.

Off Street Parking
Off street parking charges have been suspended from 6pm Thursday 26 March 2020.

Community groups providing support during COVID-19
The Council values the community based volunteer response that is mobilising in the light of COVID-19.

We have compiled a list of organisations that have come forward to offer their support to the most vulnerable in our society. You can download the list here.

If your community group or organisation wishes to offer support please contact communitysupport@fermanaghomagh.com and your details will be added.

Guidance for Volunteering in your Community
The Council commends the community-based volunteer response that is mobilising.

We have developed practical advice and guidance for volunteers, bearing in mind that as a community our main task is to minimise the spread of coronavirus. You can download guidance for volunteering in your community during COVID-19 here.

Telephone helplines
Helplines NI consists of over 30 different helplines operating across Northern Ireland. The helplines provide a variety of vital support services including, information, advice, counselling, a listening ear and be-friending, and offer immediate support to those with a wide-range of health and wellbeing needs, often for those who are the most vulnerable in our community. Many of the services take place over the phone, but some can help via email, text and in some cases with live web-chat.

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/businesses-that-supply-or-produce-food-on-the-move 
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/distance-selling-mail-order-and-delivery
https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/safe-catering.pdf