Childline answered almost 400,000 calls for help last year

Childline answered nearly 400,000 calls for help last year.

The vast majority were made out of hours when there is no one else to speak to.

The ISPCC has released its report for 2016 which shows it took more than a thousand calls a day.

Its listening service is the only 24-hour help for children in Ireland.

Interim CEO, Caroline O'Sullivan, says they are offering an essential service.

"We've seen an awful lot of coverage about why we need a 24-hour directly accessible social work service for all children of families in Ireland, and our annual report provides further evidence of why this is required," she said.