Individuals and families living in poverty will be left struggling in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, according to St Vincent DePaul.
The organisation has welcomed an increase in the Covid-19 emergency payment however it says it should be combined with an adequate accessible rent supplement.
While it commended the "swift action" of the Department of Social Protection, it made some recommendations including a temporary top up payment to the poorest children, an extension of the fuel allowance and a doubling of the social welfare payment.
Its National President Kieran Stafford has said that taking the right steps now, will reduce demands on supports in the future.