St. Vincent de Paul spending a million a week helping people

The largest charity in the country says it’s now spending a million euro a week providing assistance to those struggling in the recession.

St. Vincent de Paul says calls for assistance have increased by up to 30 per cent in some areas this year, and that a quarter are from first time callers.

It’s making its pre-budget submission to government today and says there is no moral or economic justification for social welfare cuts in the budget.

Laura Byrne reports