The Galway branch of the Saint de Paul Society has reported an estimated 50 per cent increase in the number of people contacting it for help this January compared with last year.
While the exact numbers are not available yet its administrator Colm Noonan says the figures were “way up” on the same period in 2010.
The charity, which experienced a 47 per cent rise in calls over Christmas, says a combination of the effects of the recession and the Budget means more people are appealing for assistance.
“January and February are difficult months because these are when the New Year bills start coming through the letterbox. Everyone’s pay packet is down since January, on average people are losing €25 per week through the Universal Social Charge. The children’s allowance has been cut and unemployment assistance is reduced. The minimum wage is down also. More people are losing their jobs and many of those who were made redundant earlier have used up their savings and redundancy money trying to make ends meet. Every family is feeling it. We expect February to be as busy as Christmas.
“I’ve always said, even in the good times, people will make do for Christmas. It was awful for people on low incomes this year because we had one of the most severe winters in living memory so their oil/gas/electricity bills will be very high.”
Many of the people whom the charity assisted over Christmas helped the society in the past, he says. “Traditionally, we tended to help families and lone parents. But increasingly we are seeing more and more new faces. These are middle income people who have lost their jobs - they are making up a big percentage of those we help now.”
Mr Noonan says there is a prevailing mood of despondency in the country. “The whole country is on a downer. People are very down and it’s not just because of the economic circumstances but the whole political thing. Last year was bad for the Church, too. We lost everything dear to us. I’ve never seen anything before like the level of uncertainty that is around.”
He says people are being hit on all sides. “People are losing their jobs or having their incomes reduced. We are back to exporting our young - 50,000 people will leave Ireland this year - and that brings its own set of problems. A lot are going without proper visas.”
The St Vincent de Paul society puts “massive” resources into education as it believes this is the key to getting people out of the poverty trap.
“But our fund is a drop in the ocean [when compared with the demand]. The increase in college registration fees is another barrier for young people interested in accessing education.
“I would say to those who are losing their jobs to do a course, to keep their finger in, that way you are not just sitting looking at the four walls.”
Growing demand for its service is prompting the charity to open additional county branches. “We opened a St Vincent de Paul branch in Oughterard and we are working towards getting something established in Clifden. We could do with another three or four branches in Connemara. We opened a new office in Tuam which is the regional office for the society.”
