Nearly two-fifths of calls to childline go unanswered

Nearly two-fifths of children who called Childline last year were unable to access the service, the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) said today.

According to Childline’s annual call statistics for 2008, of the 650,000 calls made to the service last year over 60 per cent were answered, marking a 16 per cent increase on 2007 figures and the highest in the history of the service.

Abuse and violence accounted for 27,284 calls received while 7,821 calls related to mental health issues. Nearly half of all calls were from children speaking about issues relating to everyday life.

In its 21 years Childline has answered calls from over 2.2 million children and young people across Ireland however, director of Services with the ISPCC Caroline O’Sullivan said the demand on the service is likely to increase during the recession.

The ISPCC also said the fact that 78 per cent of calls were made out of hours (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday) highlights the urgent need for round the clock child protection services and the society called on the Government to establish a nationwide 24-hour child protection and welfare service in Ireland.

ISPCC Advocacy Manager Mary Nicholson said: “Three quarters of child protection reports made by Childline to Social Workers and An Garda Síochána were based on calls received from children who contacted Childline out of hours, so the need for a nationwide out-of-hours service is very clear”.

The society cites a number of high profile cases, such as the deaths of Leanne and Shania Dunne in Monageer and Sharon Grace and her two children in Wexford, as examples of the gaps in the system.

Ms Nicholson said: “Thankfully these high profile cases are not indicative of the norm. However, there are countless other children, evident by the calls to Childline, experiencing abuse outside of office hours.”

“These children urgently need protection.

“While An Garda Síochána have the power to intervene, a garda station is no place for a vulnerable child at risk.

“If we have twenty four hour services, children and families can be supported and abuse which escalates to high threshold levels can be reduced,” she added.