Hundreds of families may be left in the cold this winter due to surging fuel prices, a care agency warned today.
Fr Mick Cullen, the director of Crosscare, said it was astonishing that 60 years after the group first began to work with the capital's poor some families were still in difficulties.
"It's not acceptable that in the wealthy Ireland of 2005 we are still dealing with people who are cold and hungry," Fr Cullen said. "When Crosscare started working with Dublin's poor in 1941 one of our main functions was distributing food, clothing and turf to families in need.
"Over 60 years later, it's astonishing that we are still dealing with people finding it hard to feed their families and heat their homes."
Catholic Archbishop Diarmuid Martin urged people to contribute generously to the Annual Crosscare Appeal to ensure the agency's vital work continues.
Fr Mick Cullen
The collection to fund the work will take place at churches all over the Dublin Diocese next weekend. Crosscare, which is the social care agency of the Dublin Diocese, warned people on low incomes would struggle to cope this winter with gas prices rising 25 per cetn, electricity bills increasing in January and the price of home heating oil rising on a weekly basis.
The agency said hunger and cold are two basic problems which hundreds of people in the Dublin Diocese face every day.
"This year it is clear many people will find it hard to keep their children warm for the winter," Fr Cullen said.
"For most of us, rising fuel prices will mean turning down the heating for an hour or two - how can you cope with increases in gas, electricity or heating bills if you are already barely getting by on a low income."
The agency said it was still providing 250 meals a day to the elderly, young homeless people, hostel dwellers and long-term street drinkers. Each year over 370,000 meals on wheels are delivered to the housebound, over 600 tonnes of food were given to charities and over 13,000 bed nights were provided for homeless men and women.
"In 2005, Ireland is among the richest nations in the world and more than ever Crosscare is needed on the streets of the Diocese," Fr Cullen said.
"People often ask what an appropriate contribution to the Annual Appeal would be - to put some perspective on it, a round of drinks costs around €30 to €40, a modest meal for two with wine is €80. In that context we are asking people to help us to help others, not least to stay warm this winter."
As well as providing food and shelter last year, the agency also supported education for the Travelling Community, provided nearly 1,000 free counselling sessions for teenagers and allowed 100 carers a respite weekend break.
PA