The President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has called on the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, to protect the most vulnerable in society in the upcoming December budget.
While saying the Society was "very apprehensive" about what the Budget might bring, it's new President - Mr Brian O'Reilly - called for an increase of the Social Welfare payment to a minimum of €130 per week and for the removal from the tax net of those on the minimum wage.
Speaking at the launch of the Society's Annual Report in Dublin today, Mr O'Reilly criticised the inequalities faced by those on low incomes and on Social Welfare.
He was equally scathing of the Government saying "the recently announced cuts - and broken promises - in areas such as Health, Housing and Education almost beggar belief."
Over 400,000 children, he said, were living in families that were so poor they needed Child Dependent allowance in addition to Social Welfare payments in order "to see them through the week."
The figures launched today showed the Society had spent €21 million in its fight against poverty and disadvantage in the 9 months prior to December last.
The Society, which is Ireland's largest voluntary organisation, is also Ireland's biggest provider of emergency housing in the country and has 400 hostel units and 800 social housing units.
It also provides holidays for the elderly, organises community initiatives, and runs a chain of second-hand shops and Enterprise programmes.