REPORTS OF a funding crisis in the St Vincent de Paul have been played down by a spokesman for the society. Describing a potential funding crisis in the Cork branch as “a worst-case scenario”, spokesman Jim Walsh said there was no suggestion of the society going out of business.
“Many of the [funding] problems there were caused by last year’s flooding,” Mr Walsh said yesterday. “Over €300,000 was spent on that, an unexpected expenditure. We’re holding our own in most regions; people are still very generous.” He said requests for help were up more than 30 per cent on last year.
Cork regional president Brendan Dempsey said if there was another severe winter, its resources would not be adequate.
Regional northeast president Michael O’Keeffe said the society’s spending in Drogheda-Louth had doubled in the last four years.
In Dublin, a spokeswoman said calls had increased by 47 per cent since January.