ONE of Ireland’s biggest charities is paying for more funerals — many of them due to suicide — as growing numbers of households buckle under financial strain.

IT was like a scene from the Late Late Toy Show.

ONE of the country’s largest charities has said society would pay the price for failing to help those on inadequate incomes battle through the worst effects of the recession.

A CHARITY has warned the Insurance Ombudsman of Ireland that firms are taking advantage of hundreds of people as a direct result of the November floods crisis.

THE Irish public have shown their great generosity and kindness once again.

THE St Vincent de Paul yesterday said it expects a dramatic increase in people coming to them for help at Christmas time, with the charity already seeing a surge in calls to its offices.

THE Society of St Vincent de Paul has seen a 50% rise in the number of calls to its Dublin help services so far this year, with struggling, middle-class families or the “new poor” emerging as the biggest concern.

THE country’s leading charities are warning they are close to breaking point trying to provide for thousands of vulnerable people in the lead up to Christmas, as demands for food, clothing and help to heat homes surge.

ALL social welfare payments should be slashed by 5% as part of swingeing cuts aimed at saving €1.8 billion across social and family affairs payments.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) says it is "shocked" by the report from An Bord Snip Nua, recommending €1.8bn worth of cuts in social welfare expenditure.

MORE than 800 members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) attended a crisis meeting in Dublin at the weekend to plan ahead for tougher times.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY launched its annual report yesterday and it will conduct its annual appeal for funds next week from December 2 to 9. For many unfortunate people, the society represents the last hope. They are the people who fall between the gaps in government services.

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul says it spent a record amount of money last year helping people experiencing poverty.

POLITICAL courage and leadership is urgently needed to tackle society’s deep-rooted economic problems, a leading charity claimed yesterday.

A Co Wicklow woman today made history by becoming the first female national president of one of the country’s largest social justice groups.

RUTHLESS moneylenders are ripping off the most vulnerable people in Irish society with expensive doorstep loans, Ireland’s leading charity warned yesterday.

IRELAND’S largest charitable organisation launched a stinging attack on the Government’s social policies last night as it celebrated its 160th anniversary serving the people of Cork.

WHILE supping a nice pint of stout during the week, I was startled by the landlady who had been quietly reading the newspaper.