'Christmas is a wonderful time, provided you can afford it' - St Vincent de Paul reporting increased calls for help from working families

"Christmas is a wonderful time, provided you can afford to have that Christmas," she told the Irish Independent. "People struggle at Christmas because, while they can manage by juggling throughout the year, Christmas comes and there's huge pressure on people to have what everybody else has."

Ms McGowan said there been a notable rise in calls from working families, asking for financial support with the 'sky-high' cost of rent, mortgages or energy bills. "We're glad some of those people that are working and earning are coming to us because sometimes it's really hard to come to us."

Read at Irish Independent