Up to 1,400 calls for help a week to St Vincent de Paul in Cork and Kerry 

Sky-high energy costs, increased prices for fuel and sharp rises in the price of food are the main areas of concern for those contacting the charity

The number of calls being handled by SVP South-West is up 30% on the figures in the run-up to Christmas last year, and the charity says it is facing its most demanding Christmas and winter period in several decades in the Cork and Kerry area. File picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

Up to 1,400 calls for help a week are currently being made to St Vincent de Paul in Cork and Kerry, with the charity expecting to have handled more than 200,000 calls nationally this year.

The number of calls being handled by SVP South-West is up 30% on the figures in the run-up to Christmas last year, and the charity says it is facing its most demanding Christmas and winter period in several decades in the Cork and Kerry area.