Dr. Tricia Keilthy:

The only criterion for help from St. Vincent de Paul is need. We carry out an assessment of need, so we look at the income and outgoings of the household. We provide our support on a case-by-case basis, so assistance is not necessarily just provided to those who come within that definition. Some 30% to 35% of our calls come from people experiencing food poverty or who do not have enough income to meet the cost of food. That would be the primary form of support we provide to people. I reiterate, however, that we provide support to people in work and to people in receipt of social welfare payments. Equally, as the Senator mentioned, the majority of the households we assist are those with children, because of the extra costs such families face.