Business as usual for many in caring services

For many in the caring professions and in voluntary groups, tomorrow will be another working day.

For many in the caring professions and in voluntary groups, tomorrow will be another working day.

Accident and emergency wards will be open in all acute hospitals, as will maternity hospitals. Emergency dental services will be provided at the dental hospitals in Dublin and Cork and in regional hospitals. Santa Claus will already have arrived, laden with gifts, by the time children awake at the National Children's Hospital, now part of Tallaght Hospital. Both a Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic service will be celebrated on Christmas morning and parents will be able to share a traditional dinner with their children, according to the Matron, Ms Maura Connelly.

The 14 women's refuges and 23 help-lines of the National Network of Women's Refuges will be open over Christmas. Ms Brenda Hannon, director of the Bray Women's Refuge, says Santa will be coming to the families spending Christmas there. An increase in callers is expected after Christmas.

Neither will there be any change to the service provided by the Rape Crisis Centre. Its staff will be operating the 24-hour crisis telephone line and providing counselling throughout the holidays.

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The Irish Family Planning Association will open its Pembroke Street offices on December 26th to deal with emergencies, such as supplying the morning-after pill.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army will provide shelter and Christmas dinner to the homeless at their hostels. The RDS will house what will probably be the biggest Christmas dinner this year. The annual Knights of Columbanus dinner for the homeless of Dublin, normally held in the Mansion House, will be in Ballsbridge this year. About 500 people are expected, according to Mr Paddy Shorthall of the Knights, with a further 150 wrapped dinners being distributed around the city.

Paddy Cole and other musicians will provide the entertainment. The Samaritans expect a normal volume of calls on their lines, which will be staffed over the Christmas. "At this time of the year, people are reminded of the year past, which may not have been a good one," said Mr Joe Gallagher, director of the Dublin Samaritans.