Communion and confirmation grants payments to be cut

The Government has announced it is cutting the exceptional needs payments for religious ceremonies.

More then €3.4m was paid in communion and confirmation grants in 2011 to more than 14,000 families.

The payout was slashed last year with 12,500 families receiving a total of €1.5m. This year, the payment will be axed altogether.

The Department of Social Protection said that although clothing costs should be met by normal social welfare payments, it is still provided funding for children's and adults' clothing in "exceptional circumstances".

A recent survey by EBS showed that parents expect to spend €573 on average on First Communions this year.

The St Vincent De Paul Society is asking people in financial distress to avoid using moneylenders at all costs.

Michael Culloty from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service advised parents to "make out a budget to see what they can afford (and to) try to get best value. If they are organising a celebration, maybe do it at home rather than at a venue".

He added: "If they feel that they have to borrow we would ask them maybe to talk to us first to see are there other options available to them."