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Updated 7.56pm
THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY helpline Childline, has sought to highlight that it is not just a service for children who are being abused and neglected – volunteers are there for all children, and in recent years, this has included children who are victims of the recession.
Speaking ahead of the ISPCC’s AGM last week, Childline Volunteer Monica Rowe, said the helpline receives almost 2,000 calls a day.
“We get children who just want to chat, we get children who are being bullied, we get children whose parents have been let go or are not working out are financially strapped,” she explained. “And those children don’t want to burden their parents with their own worries now. They’re very smart – kids are very smart, and they’re very aware that their parents are in trouble. They’re very aware and they’re trying to stay quiet and they’re trying to stay good.”
Like one little fella who rang and said “I’m taking one less slice of bread in my lunch because that might help, that might save them some money”, but they’re not going to tell the parents that, because they don’t want to worry the parents.
“They’re not children at risk but they can offload, they can take a sigh of relief that they’ve offloaded and they can carry on with their day,” she said.
Last week, the ISPCC said its funds were so low since the fallout from the CRC and Rehab scandals that it may have to cut back on Childlike operating hours. This would mean the service would be closed at night – when it is needed most.
Donations are down 20 per cent so far this year and the charity is asking the public to start donating again, pointing out at its AGM last week that it is fully transparent, and all details of accounts can be found on its website.
First published 8.45am
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The Childline volunteers are brilliant people…
They are so professional..
Some of the stories they hear would bring a tear to a glass eye.
I’d be bawling crying and be no good to anyone in that type of situation..
Children starving, sick from malnourishment, no money for food, whats going to happen those children when the water charges come in…no water for them either? Leave them die..this government is upsetting.
I grew up in the 70s when people were really poor and I didn’t even realise there was a recession then. Children are stronger and more adaptable than we give them credit for and our Irish kids are a sturdy lot. They’ll get through this and when they grow up they can tell their children “when I was young we were so poor that………….”.
Yeah, the parents have the ciggies, the pints, the gee-gees, etc..
Last thing on the list is always feeding the kids.
It’s the government’s problem. So it’s our problem.
In the same way the banking debt became our problem ….
If kids are going hungry then some questions need to be asked closer to home.
What one of you would put your kid’s nutrition low our your list of priorities?
Go to bed. You’re drunk.
Jon you are so arrogant and judgemental. While there probably are families like that the majority of people in these situations are really struggling. Priority is usually paying mortgage and bills so they have a home to live in. Anything left over after that is usually very little
This is so sad , our children are suffering to save the banks , what a sad nation we have become. Children should never have to go without food.
A single mother of three in Dublin can receive 390euro child benefit, 752euro in single parent allowance and 1000euro rent allowance per month, as well as other seasonal benefits.
Is €2142 net per month enough? Please correct my figures if they’re not accurate.
Re Tom
Your taking the mick? Is that really the situation. If it is its outrageous and time to bring in a benefit cap in Ireland for anyone unemployed for tgrre/four years or more.
@Horgay. I would welcome corrections, but as per citizens info website and others that’s accurate.
I understand some families are really struggling, but we should talk numbers not anecdotes and see exactly what’s going on with the money being provided.
My above example gives over €25,000/annum net payments. That’s significantly more than the average industrial net.
tom h , people claiming benefit do not “‘get’ 1000 per month ‘rent allowance’” the landlord does,
everytime there is an article on here about welfare or benefits someone brings up this statement about ‘rent allowance’ for once and for all the claimant does not have this money to spend as they wish, it goes to the landlord.as for ‘seasonal benefits’ im sure single parents are not entitled to household benefits unless they or their child is disabled , household benefits are paid only to pensioners and the disabled and are means tested.
It’s a be fit when that 1000 is not coming from your own pocket. Household benefits like winter fuel allowance go to this unemployed more than a year.
Brendan is English your first language?
Tom H,
Not all families that are struggling are single mothers and being on the dole doesn’t automatically entitle you to every benefit listed.
That figure you gave is ridiculous and I agree that there are plenty who live nicely off it! However, I think the problem is that employed people aren’t supported as much as unemployed people, even if they struggle more. From what I can see, unless you’re entitled to Jobseekers not many other supports are available? It’s very possible to be working and still not earning enough to support your family properly.
I’d really like to be corrected here and told that everyone is happily working their way to financial security but I’ve a feeling that wont happen!
Your figures may be correct but your implication that this is a princely sum is wide of the mark. Take the grand, at least, away for rent and your left with 1150 a month for bills, food, clothes and any other eventualities that might arise. It’s an average of 265 a week for all of the above, a big ask between 4 people, quality of life on such a sum would be fairly minimal I’d suspect. Anyway social welfare is a bastion of the civilized world and despite it being inevitably abused in some circles the challenge is to have a fair functioning system that helps the less fortunate amongst us. The tone of your post is as if you’re suggesting handing out butter vouchers to a family of four and telling them to get down to army bargains to collect their tent!
Tom H your figures would make more of an impact if we were actually talking about single mothers. Unfortunately most of the people that are really struggling are those working full time, paying most of their wages in tax, and the rest goes towards mortgage for a house that’s worth less than half what they paid for it.
Also it would be far more expensive to the tax payer to house all these people rather than give them rent allowance. Unless anyone is seriously suggesting just letting families like this take their chances on the streets the argument against the allowance is a non starter.
I agree Mitch but ask yourself this how many of these kids parents smoke and drink . The parents are equally responsible .
Right I’m a single parent of 3 (all the same father too) I do not receive rent allowance every Thursday comes and goes and I’m left with nothing after bills are paid I do not smoke or drink, I have 3 kids that have their own individual problems which I don’t really want to go into here but it’s sad in this day and age that the single parent still gets the brunt where as the people who caused this are basically allowed to continue their lavish lifestyle, Tony o Reilly owes millions to aib yet plenty of ordinary folk are getting turfed out of their homes. And child benefit is paid out regardless of income.
And also if you are in local council housing you are not entitled to any rent allowance, also nobody receives €1000 you’d more like receive 750 and have to contribute the other 250 out of your own money that’s the way it works.
If you are in a local authority house, rent is probably about €50 a week.
If you read my posts again, I made no comment on whether this is too much or too little, only that we should be talking numbers. It’s interesting that most of the discussion on welfare topics doesn’t feature actual figures on what people are receiving. To me, that would be important and would help guide discussion.
The landlord does NOT get the rent allowance.
Nail on head.
The rent allowance factor has to be taken into consideration for comparitive reasons. If there is someone who is on min wage and is paying a mortgage then someone on social wefare maybe coming out with more money net.
People are not down talking single mothers. The fact is lately in the news is single mother this and that. Where are the FATHERS? They have fathers. They are suppose to pay child support as well. Our courts should drag every father into the courts and make them take responsibility. I do not know the numbers who do not. Am sure there are good fathers out there who do support the single mothers. But the ones who do not should be called up. Why should the taxpayer pay for them when they have a dad?
Agree that Welfare needs to be capped as not fair for some getting far too much. I heard in England, one family got more than 50,000 pounds in benefits in a year ! How that happens is crazy and the person doesn’t even work. Madness.
I have no idea why people do not agree with your post. The rent allowance goes to the landlord plus some of the social welfare. Sadly still in too many circumstances the rental properties are sub standard.
I’m a single mother of 3. Not all single parents get what you say
They’re not accurate in that rent for even a two bed house in Dublin costs more than €1k a month, so subtract that and you immediately halve what the family lives on. Add in school costs, bills, clothes, transport costs and feeding 4 people, less than 300 a week doesn’t go very far.
Rents are insane in this country. The govt needs to support the expansion of rent capped housing associations as a matter of priority. Sustainable affordable housing & security of tenure is key to reducing poverty & risk of homelessness.
But no, the property developer, the banker & the private landlord remain king of this country and God forbid the little people be given an alternative to contributing to their profits. Meanwhile our income tax gets poured into landlords’ pockets in the form of state rent allowance payments.
It makes me rage when people label those on benefits as scroungers. Look up the ladder a bit to where the real parasites are leeching the life out of this country.
Hey Norm does it get lonely up there on your high horse? I bet Grammar policing is a tough job !
There’s nothing more heartbreaking than a hungry, cold or unhappy child – I remember a boy from my primary school who never smiled and walked to school on his own despite living a good 20 mins away. I always remember my mam crying after seeing him one morning – I didn’t understand at the time but the image has stuck with me to this day.
Just a thought but if the service is stopping at night “when its most needed” maybe they should look at stopping it at less busier times til funds pick up again and keep running it at night
The economics might not work. Closing the line during the daytime may not save enough compared to nighttime.
It’s awful that funding is running so low!
All the wasted money handed out by the state to fatten the pensions of the self entitled should be immediately diverted to maintain essential services like this!
I think the problem there is that the people who volunteer on childline also work full time, mostly during the day I suspect. They don’t have a huge pool of counsellors to fall back on, it’s a struggle for them to cover the hours as they do.
As a developed economy and society this kind of story of children making sacrifices (big or small) should be unheard of.
It beggars belief that we as a country have allowed a government to put financial priorities above the well being of our children…we take our revenge through the ballot box but denying sick children a medical card or allowing children to go to bed hungry should have us out on the streets in our droves. Heard a story on the radio a couple of years back where a man sitting at the kitchen table on night in utter despair of not being able to pay his mortgage was approached by his 6 year old daughter. She offered him her piggy bank and the few coins that were in it to help him out. Children are indeed acutely aware of what parents are being subjected to but a child’s love is unconditional and no bank or lack witted politician can tax or deduct that away.
You think this bananna republic is a “developed economy”? It’s 3rd world
Ah now Tim, for all the problems existing in Ireland, we’re still not 3rd world. Go to a 3rd world country and see what it’s about. We might have to pay for clean water soon but we sure won’t have to walk 5 miles in 35degrees for it!
When are people going to matter and not economics, shame on the government
When people vote for People Before Profit and Direct Democracy Ireland.
Bread costs hardly anything so this is another made up story. Food as a proportion of household spending is the lowest it’s ever been.
Your efforts at trolling have become very disappointing of late,keep trying though.
About 10% of my posts are trolling. They rest are genuine beliefs. Do you not notice how better informed I am?
Check out page 8
http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/housing/2010/0910first.pdf?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Aldi sliced pan is about 70c for 24 slices. Each slice costs 3c.
Shame on the parents for worrying a child over money.
Brendan even if you posted a link to tonight’s winning lottery numbers, I wouldn’t look at it.
You are by the standards of this site a very mediocre troll at best.
Children going without proper food , the blame is with management of resorses in the family in most cases.
You’re as much informed as Joey Essex ;)
* Apologies to Joey Essex -as he’s more informed than Brendan
The maths and statistics a bit too much for you Tiff?
Old news that you are pasting on this site ..
I hate to admit it, but Brendan has a point. While it’s sad that people are struggling, it would help if parents took a moment to learn how to make what they’ve got go further. E.g. Instead of blowing your money on convenience foods buy a kiilo of pasta and some ingredients to make the sauces – it will go a long way.
Angela the cost of gas/electricity keep going up, the people who are having problems are possibly on pay as you go meters which are dearer than if you had combined direct debt, 14 yrs ago I’d pay around 120 now it’s 320 in electricity, gas usage is around the same but I can’t use it as it’s detrimental to us asthmatics, cost of living is ridiculous I shop 100% of the time in aldl/lidl, clothes wise Penneys is a godsend if there is one near! I wonder how many are committing here are still living at home with the folks forking out for them ?
you forget to mention drink and smokes which cost a lot more than a slicepan
Martina, people have moved back home are not living the land of luxury than you think. I know some who do pay rent at home. Heating, food and electricity has to be paid. Some have moved back home due to massive debts, job lost and rented out their apartment to pay for mortgage. Do not slate those who live at home as it is not a luxury as rents is too expensive in some areas as well and no housing available in some areas.
Text CHILDLINE to 50300 to donate €2.
It was always used as a threat in our house “you are being mean to me for not letting me eat four kilos of sweets I’m going to ring childline” ……………
250000 at one direction great little country
This is not acceptable situation in Ireland. We are running out country as a business not a society. This cannot go on. The madness must stop.
maybe one day but never with this government
Brendan you are a bore dry up
Have you ever considered joining a debating society?
@Brendan Do your knuckles drag along the ground as you walk?
Yes, I have forward rotated shoulders from not hitting my back enough. Do you know me?
Not personally but I’m aware of your species existence
good man Sam another bleading heart
Those youngsters should be eating wheaten bread the white stuff is bad for you.
That any child in Ireland should go without food is unreal and totally unacceptable today. I remember the days of life for many of us in the past on bread and jam. But the cynic in me is out. I simply see this as a ploy by another charity to raise funds. And before anyone thinks I’m unkind, check out the financial arrangements of any charity except St Vincent de Paul. And I hate TV adverts showing some poor unfortunate in Africa who needs water whilst I’m being told €3 a month will save his life yet the ad itself costs small fortune.
No, don’t be saps! It’s pure bah! Humbug reporting
I’m a single mother of 3 kids (with the same father)” ehh?
How “single” is that ehh?
Some couples are married with kids/no kids and are unfairly penalised by the state for being so.
Some people change their relationship status in life as easy as changing their Facebook status.
And maybe they are right.
…….
But should the taxpayer be continuously mugged to pay for their offspring and for their infidelity, fecklessness and their whimsical decisions/”mistakes”?
I agree with tom H if these mothers can’t buy slice bread from all these monies there are reciving were is it going
You FG trolls should read more of these stories before you come here with your bullshit.
have your say