A total of 58 Cork charities have received over 18 tonnes of cheese this week as the Government’s free cheese scheme is rolled out around the country. In Cork, the voluntary organisations collected the cheese at Orchard Warehousing, Cobh Cross and Colso Enterprises, Togher.
The President of Saint Vincent de Paul in Cork, Brendan Dempsey, said there is much demand in Cork for the free cheese, saying he already has a list of around 65 to 70 people that are looking for it.
“People are delighted to be getting the cheese. We have had an incredible amount of people calling in to see if they can get it. I have a big list of clients that are looking for the cheese.
“Of course people will be embarrassed. People are always embarrassed when they ask for help, but people have to ask or help when there are children going to bed hungry, and there are plenty of children going to bed hungry in Cork.”
Mr Dempsey said that he has spoken with many people around Cork who are under pressure to save money that are looking forward to their free cheese.
“I met one family who have to survive for the rest of the month on €120. That’s €120 for a mother, father and child. When I called over to them they were eating dry pasta. “In the last few months, I have never seen as many grown men coming into Saint Vincent de Paul crying. We’ve had to put tissues in our rooms. People are under huge amounts of pressure. Some people may scoff when it comes to the free cheese, but some people really will appreciate it.”
However, Sinn Fein councillor, Henry Cremin blasted the scheme, saying that he was “fuming” when he first heard of it.
“I thought it was a joke when it came out a few weeks ago. A few people called me as well and asked if the Government was serious.
“What they should have done was give out hampers or reinstate the Christmas bonus. If they did that, the money would be going right back into the local economy. People don’t hold on to their Christmas bonus. They spend it.”
Cllr Cremin also said that not everyone who was given the cheese would get the full benefit of it.
The President of Saint Vincent de Paul in Cork, Brendan Dempsey, said there is much demand in Cork for the free cheese, saying he already has a list of around 65 to 70 people that are looking for it.
“People are delighted to be getting the cheese. We have had an incredible amount of people calling in to see if they can get it. I have a big list of clients that are looking for the cheese.
“Of course people will be embarrassed. People are always embarrassed when they ask for help, but people have to ask or help when there are children going to bed hungry, and there are plenty of children going to bed hungry in Cork.”
Mr Dempsey said that he has spoken with many people around Cork who are under pressure to save money that are looking forward to their free cheese.
“I met one family who have to survive for the rest of the month on €120. That’s €120 for a mother, father and child. When I called over to them they were eating dry pasta. “In the last few months, I have never seen as many grown men coming into Saint Vincent de Paul crying. We’ve had to put tissues in our rooms. People are under huge amounts of pressure. Some people may scoff when it comes to the free cheese, but some people really will appreciate it.”
However, Sinn Fein councillor, Henry Cremin blasted the scheme, saying that he was “fuming” when he first heard of it.
“I thought it was a joke when it came out a few weeks ago. A few people called me as well and asked if the Government was serious.
“What they should have done was give out hampers or reinstate the Christmas bonus. If they did that, the money would be going right back into the local economy. People don’t hold on to their Christmas bonus. They spend it.”
Cllr Cremin also said that not everyone who was given the cheese would get the full benefit of it.
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