The St Vincent De Paul Society is asking people in financial distress to avoid using moneylenders at all costs.
The warning comes after the Department of Social Protection announced it’s cutting the exceptional needs payments for religious ceremonies – such as communions and confirmations.
More then 12,500 families availed of the grant last year – and a recent survey revealed that on average parents expect to spend 573 euro on First Communions this year.
Michael Culloty from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service says usually families put off paying other essential bills – so that they can splash out on religious ceremonies.
