People are struggling more than they were in the last recession says Vice President of SVP

The regional Vice-President of St Vincent De Paul (SVP) in the north west says people are struggling more than they did during the last recession. The Irish economy entered a severe recession in 2008 and entered into a severe depression in 2009. 

“I think it is worse than the time of the recession, it was bad then but people seemed to be managing and coping but this time around people seem to be really, really struggling,” Mrs Rosa Glacken said. 

In January, the Finance Minister Finian McGrath said Ireland will ‘only just avoid’ a recession adding that uncertainty in relation to the war in Ukraine, the lower demand for Irish goods and an EU-wide policy on dampening inflation pose risks to Ireland. 

Mrs Glacken says the strain can be seen throughout the region as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis cripple those in vulnerable financial positions and workers on lower income turning to SVP for help. 

Cold spells such as the one experienced this week are adding to the financial burden on those who are already struggling to heat their homes: “People are saying they cannot afford to heat their homes. The cost of heating oil and coal has just gone through the roof and a cold spell like this really and truly is putting people to the pin of their collar,” Mrs Glacken said. 

A survey carried out by Bounce Insights earlier this year found that 77% of people are concerned about their finances as prices increase.The survey also found that 33% of people are becoming anxious about the future. 

Mrs Glacken said price increases in a number of different areas are combining to increase the financial burden on people, she said: “I do not know how people are coping but I do know that this must be having a severe impact on people.”

Those who have children in primary and secondary schools are also struggling and Mrs Glacken says the smallest thing can cause financial hardship to many. 

She added that there has been a 24% increase in the number of people who are seeking help from SVP for the first time across the nation: “They were people who are working but who are on low income and these are the people who are suffering most because they are not getting the fuel grant they are not getting any assistance at all.  

“I think these are the people who we are trying to reach out to because they think that because they are working they shouldn’t be calling us. These people are struggling and are on a very tight budget and the smallest thing can put their finances over the edge,” Mrs Glacken said. 

Those who are trying to keep students in college and university are under severe financial strain: “I have been there myself and it was expensive then but it is horrendous now especially if they are not getting a grant - they have registration fees and maintenance to pay. It is so hard,” she said. 

Mrs Glacken said that those living in rural areas need cars and this in itself is a huge cost: “Any glitch with a car puts people under ferocious pressure as well,” she said.