A brilliant gesture from Maynooth University.

Maynooth University has announced that it will provide accommodation for 20 healthcare workers returning to Ireland to help in the fight against Covid-19. The university has said that, with additional funding from private companies, it will provide 20 campus rooms for healthcare workers to self-isolate in for the requisite two weeks. They will also cover the cost of cleaning and security. The move is part of a partnership with the Answer Ireland's Call campaign, which is also providing funds to help repatriate Irish healthcare workers who had been abroad. So far, 30 healthcare workers have been brought home by the cause. Maynooth is the first of Ireland's universities to partner with the movement. Announcing the move, Director of External Relations at Maynooth University, Rebecca Doolin, said: "All over the country, people are doing whatever they can to support the national effort to combat Covid-19. While some students remain living in campus accommodation, the vast majority of them have moved home, so we have capacity and wanted to help in whatever way we could. "MU is delighted to partner with Answer Ireland’s Call to support health care workers who are on the frontline of this crisis and we are grateful to our donors who helped make this possible, as there will undoubtedly be difficult financial constraints facing the university sector in the months ahead." Neil Sands, founder of Answer Ireland's Call and Maynooth University graduate said: "We are unbelievably grateful to Maynooth, and to everyone who has donated their time, property or money to help the Ireland’s Call Initiative. "These health care workers are making enormous sacrifices for Ireland in its hour of need and we should do everything we can to support them. It’s our chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with our front line."