Householders facing pressures from creditors are being urged to budget enough money to cover family necessities such as food.
Reacting to reports that a seven-year-old Cork girl collapsed in class due to severe undernourishment, Money Advice and Budgeting Service spokesman Michael Culloty said pressure to repay debts can lead to promises that can’t be kept.
Workers Party councillor Ted Tynan revealed details of the case, which happened in the past two weeks at a Cork city school.
Mr Tynan said he received a number of offers of donations to help the struggling family, who were visited by a social worker following the incident.
“The doctor’s description was that the child was severely undernourished. I was shocked and horrified. It seems that in recessions, like wars, children are the first to suffer,” he said.