St Vincent de Paul today called on politicians to do more to prevent poverty traps as it revealed it spent €42 million in one year helping the poor.
At a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Social and Family Affairs, the society said the disadvantaged were being hit hard by a biased tax system, extortionate moneylenders and limits to welfare and benefits.
SVP vice-president Professor John Monaghan
Prof John Monaghan, the society's vice-president, said: "SVP had to spend over €42 million in 2005 helping disadvantaged people - this in a country with unprecedented wealth.
"And the society's 9,200 volunteers made over 350,000 visits to people in need last year and spent over two million hours doing so."
Prof Monaghan accepted last December's Budget was a step forward in tackling poverty, but he warned there are too many areas of ongoing concern.
He claimed there are a plethora of poverty traps caused by income thresholds for welfare benefits and supports and the slow roll-out of Early Childhood Education and Care facilities - especially in disadvantaged areas.
Prof Monaghan criticised the tax system, claiming it was grossly unfair to single-income families. He claimed they pay more than two-income households on the same income and said it was a disincentive to move from welfare to work.
Prof Monaghan noted the difficulties poor families have getting credit and claimed that banks do not want to know them. Many people are forced to use extortionate moneylenders for shopping, school expenses and first communion, he said.
The society also highlighted the hidden dangers of rural poverty caused by the closure of shops and services and warned it was causing increased isolation and fear, particularly among older people.
Prof Monaghan insisted the resources were available to tackle these problems but said decisive action was required.