‘Families tend to defer bills to pay for Communion’

Cash-strapped families will put off paying bills to cover the cost of their children’s First Holy Communion a charity has warned, after the Government confirmed that a grant for “religious ceremonies” is to be axed.

Jim Walsh of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), said it was still too early to see how the cut would impact on needy families, but said some would inevitably run into financial difficulty.

“A lot of people tend to defer paying bills so they can pay for their children’s First Communion and Confirmation. It is later on when they run into financial difficulties they come to us or go to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service [MABS] looking for help,” he said.