Poverty trap warning as SVP spends €42m

THE country’s leading charity yesterday urged politicians to take decisive action to prevent poverty traps, revealing it spent €42 million in one year helping the poor.

St Vincent de Paul (SVP) told the Oireachtas Committee for Social and Family Affairs that disadvantaged people were being hit hard by a biased tax system, extortionate moneylenders and limits to welfare and benefits.

Society vice-president Professor John Monaghan told the politicians: “SVP had to spend over €42million in 2005 helping disadvantaged people — this in a country with unprecedented wealth.