ISPCC makes cuts to Childline service after charity scandals
One of the country's leading children's charities says it has had to make redundancies and salary cuts in the wake of the CRC and Rehab scandals.
The ISPCC says services like Childline are now under threat of more cutbacks if fundraising does not improve.
It has warned that it may have to stop taking calls from vulnerable children from 10 o'clock every night - instead of operating a 24 hour service.
Volunteer Monica Roe says public frustration is damaging fundraising efforts.
The ISPCC is the latest group to report a fall-off in donations - Childline relies largely on donations, but did get some HSE funding last year.
It has been in operation for 25 years, was contacted about 650,000 times last year, and its phone and internet services responded to 450,000 of those.
Ashley Balbirnie, ISPCC Chief Executive said: “Be in no doubt that the ISPCC is at breaking point and cannot continue to provide vital nationwide 24-hour support if the current trend continues.
“This will leave a huge vacuum for vulnerable children in Ireland, our children.
“They will quite simply have nowhere to turn and these children who are brave enough to call Childline should not be casualties of a controversy they played no part in.”
