100,000 calls to SVP as Kenny says no child should go hungry
Calls made to St Vincent De Paul’s four main centres in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and the Mid-West amounted to 97,610, with calls made to its other nine regional centres pushing the figure above 100,000.
That is more than double the number of calls received by the charity in 2009 and comes as some of its offices spend record amounts of money trying to keep families provided with essentials such as warmth and heat.
In response to the findings, Mr Kenny said he recognised that more people were turning to SVP “in these strained economic times”.
However, he said, 40% of the State’s total spending is on social protection, adding that older people get a €230-a-week pension, and free fuel and electricity allocations.
Mr Kenny also said it was “very stressful for families” who find there is nothing left at the end of the month because they cannot restructure their mortgages and meet their requirements.
“The Government is engaging in a proactive and constructive way with the banks to ensure that they sit down and deal with clients who have mortgage distress problems,” said Mr Kenny.
“There needs to be much greater involvement, and the banks were recapitalised to deal with that situation in the first instance.”
Mr Kenny also told the Dáil that “no child in this country should be hungry” in response to reports that a growing number of pupils are turning up to school without breakfast.
Independent TD John Halligan said that one in five school principals said children are turning up to their schools hungry.
He said that 270,000 children live in some form of poverty, adding that this grew by 35,000 this year.
Mr Kenny said €37m will be spent on the school meals programme this year and that schools must work within their existing resources.
“The fact that children are wellfed and well nourished is very important for their concentration levels and their educational attainments.” he said. “No child in an Irish school in 2013 should be hungry.”
