The ISPCC has today warned that the night-time Childline service is at imminent risk of closing unless an urgent appeal for donations is successful.
The charity, funded almost exclusively by public donations, hopes to raise about €1.2m in order to keep its lines operating on a 24h basis.
Childline has operated a 24h schedule for 15 out of 26 years of its existence, and it currently receives an average of 1,800 calls a day.
An emergency appeal will be launched soon to try and raise the necessary funds to keep the lines open 24h a day.