Confronting poverty - More and more people need help

At first glance there is something reassuring about the announcement from the St Vincent de Paul Society in Cork that donations made at church gate collections have increased by 11% since last year.

It points to the innate decency that has sustained this society through many difficult episodes. It also suggests that the great majority of people realise that there are far too many of our neighbours struggling to make ends meet, that far too many people are having real difficulty in reaching a decent but pretty basic standard of living. And they recognise too that those of us who can afford to have a role in easing that life-quenching burden.

Unfortunately, that feeling of moderate achievement cannot survive the second half of the society’s announcement. In a chilling confirmation of how endless economic theorising, and rows about whether we should cut spending or try to stimulate growth by spending money we don’t have, reach into people’s lives the society also reported that the demand for its support has increased by 30%. In this vicious circle it is impossible for the society, and so many other services, to guarantee the support people might need.