Homeless charity provides 73,000 meals per year

A leading homeless and drugs charity provided 73,000 meals to people last year, a rise of 9,000 on 2010, as the “devastating effects” of the recession deepens.

In its annual review for 2011, Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) said the Government’s austerity measures were hitting the “most vulnerable” hard.

The increase in meal provision in 2011 was 14% higher than 2010, but represents a 60% hike on 2009.