Charity scandals played role in funding drop to Childline — ISPCC

The plummeting public faith in charities in the wake of the Rehab and Central Remedial Clinic scandals has threatened the future of Childline’s 24-hour help-line, says the ISPCC.

The helpline, which has received more than 34,000 night-time calls so far this year, faces being cut between the hours of 3am and 8am from January unless €1.2m can be raised to plug a deficit gap.

ISPCC Childline’s director of services, Caroline O’Sullivan, said the charity was desperate to avoid such a scenario, with meetings with Minister for Children James Reilly likely in the coming weeks.