The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) and the ISPCC/ Childline have announced a funding agreement which will ensure the Childline service stays open 24 hours a day.

Recently, the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which operates Childline, warned that funding difficulties in the organisation could force the closure of overnight services.

In October of this year Childline issued an emergency appeal seeking funding of €1.2m to cover a funding deficit. The organisation said if it did not get this funding the night-time service would be unable to remain open in 2015.

Childline today said a combination of corporate and public donations had reached €400,000, with an additional €300,000 pledged.

Today the ISPCC agreed on funding for two years with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The agreement will also see the ISPCC work with the department in supporting developments in the area of child protection.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr. James Reilly says “It is important that children and young people know there is a service for them to go with their concerns 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

Caroline O’Sullivan, Interim ISPCC CEO, stated that “the commitment of Minister Reilly and the DCYA to protect the Childline service is very welcome”

“This response from the public, corporates and the government shows the high regard held for the Childline service and the outcomes it achieves for the children and teenagers that utilise it on a daily basis. But the challenge of raising sufficient funds on an annual basis to protect the 24 hour nature of the Childline service remains,” she added.