Charity calls on Government to set 'legally binding targets' to tackle poverty in Ireland

From left, Nessan Vaughan, SVP chair, Social Justice Committee; Rose McGowan, SVP national president and Tricia Keilthy, SVP head of Social Justice and Policy at the SVP pre-budget submission on Tuesday. Picture: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

The next Government must set legally binding targets to reduce poverty in Ireland, according to the Society of St Vincent de Paul, which said it expected, for the first time ever, to receive in excess of a quarter of a million calls for help this year.

In its pre-budget submission, it said while the worst of the cost-of-living crisis was now behind most of us, it had left significant lasting damage in its wake which required further Government action to help those in need.