Cowen urged not to target poor with budget cutbacks

The Society of St Vincent de Paul is calling on Minister for Finance Brian Cowen not to target low-income groups when making budget cuts this year.

In its pre-budget submission, the charity expresses concern that disadvantaged people will suffer when the State's purse strings are tightened.

The society says 300,000 people still live in consistent poverty in Ireland, while 800,000 are at risk of poverty, and these people must not be targeted in any programme of cutbacks.