Calls to St Vincent de Paul double

CALLS to the Society of St Vincent de Paul have doubled in the first half of this year, as the worsening economic situation puts more pressure on poorer families.

There were 3,762 calls to its Dublin headquarters up to July this year, compared to 1,695 during the same period in 2002.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul said this 115% increase showed that people on inadequate social welfare benefits and in low paid jobs were especially vulnerable to an economic downturn.