Calls to the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Cork during November and December were up nearly 20%
The charity says the greatest need continues to be for food as people struggle with food inflation and rising fuel rates
More than 2,500 hampers were distributed across Cork over the month of December to help people through the Christmas period
Speaking to RedFM News Paddy O'Flynn of SVP says social welfare rates have failed to keep up with the rising cost of living
"The safety net of social welfare rates has not kept up with the inflation rate for food which is still about 15 to 20% and that is not going to come down. Energy rates are still continuing to run around 70% higher than they were half way through 2020 and that makes people quite scared"
