The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul warns about the impact of cutbacks in social welfare payments.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul has warned that many people in receipt of social welfare may face evictions or turn to illegal money lenders following recent social welfare cutbacks.
As one of Ireland's oldest charities, the Society of St Vincent de Paul can authoritatively claim to reflect the experiences of many people with whom it comes into daily contact.
The society is critical of the Minister for Social Welfare who two weeks ago announced cuts to the supplementary welfare allowance and a reduction in the ESB grant. President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Bill Cleary, says that people are in real need of help and do not queue needlessly at community welfare offices. He fears that the additional financial pressures during the back to school period may result in evictions or a return to illegal money lending.
People should not be made go to money lenders again.
The Department of Social Welfare says that the supplementary welfare allowance continues to be flexible and Minister Charlie McCreevy says that £260,000 has been allocated to a plan to combat money lending.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 August 1992. The reporter is Anne Cassin.
