Children’s helpline calls soar by 56,000

THE number of crisis calls from children to one of the country’s leading emergency helplines has risen by a shocking 56,000 in just one year.

Figures revealed by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) show that in the past 11 months a massive 722,849 calls to the group were made by vulnerable children.

The number of cries for help — which equates to more than 2,200 calls a day since the start of 2010 — is 56,000 higher than the 666,849 contacts during the same period in 2009.

The ISPCC has confirmed the startling rise is directly linked to growing recession-related family incidents, with all kinds of abuse (13%) and everyday family disagreements (63%) now accounting for almost three out of every four calls.

However, despite this situation the group has warned that funding problems mean 40% of crisis calls are left unanswered — a situation which is unlikely to change in the near future.

“All of our services have seen a huge increase in demand as the current state of the economy impacts on children and their families,” explained ISPCC chief executive, Ashley Balbirnie.

“Worryingly, too many of these children are in abusive or harmful situations and are dreading what Christmas may bring.”

According to the ISPCC, a total of 484,218 calls from children in danger have been answered by the service since the start of this year. The figure is more than double the 203,889 contacts in 2005 and is likely to exceed the overall annual figure of 512,689 calls in 2009 when the full 2010 level is announced.

The average number of weekly calls to the service so far this year stands at 10,086, with a massive 4,500 calls a week in the Dublin area alone and 1,100 in Cork.

The figures came after the ISPCC told a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children meeting in July that funding difficulties meant almost 300 children were on waiting lists at the time for specialist services provided by the charity.

The ISPCC has called for public donations to help provide support to children at risk of abuse. Funds can be given via the www.ispcc.ie website, by calling 1850 50 40 50, or by purchasing an ISPCC “Holly badge” for €2.

* To contact ISPCC’s Childline, the free, 24-hour helpline for children and teenagers, tel: [phone].