Last week Childline said its service deals not just with abuse children, but with children who are worried about the recession and how it’s impacted on their families.
Childline should be expanding. Instead we’re faced with the awful possibility that a child calling in desperation might have no one to answer their call.
Ahead of the charity’s AGM in Dublin today, the ISPCC said it is now at breaking point and could be forced to close Childline at night – when children need them most.
Figures from Childline indicate children are more comfortable talking about mental health on the web, with 20 per cent of online contacts relating to this area.
Volunteering with Childline can be challenging and difficult at times, write a group of volunteers from Childline Cork, who say although it can be heart-wrenching it is worth it.
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN suggested yesterday that plans to recognise the hard work of frontline staff during the pandemic may not be limited to healthcare workers.
“We want to reflect the contribution that people have made during Covid-19, particularly frontline workers. Frontline workers have been in many sectors, not least in retail, right from the beginning and the commencement of the pandemic,” he said.
Martin said there would be “further engagement” with the relevant sectors on the Government’s said plan for a one-off bonus, either a cash lump sum or additional leave days.
The public expenditure minister Michael McGrath said the Government will be dealing with the matter in the next few weeks but that the cost of granting ten days additional leave to healthcare workers as recognition of their work during the pandemic would cost the State “well over €1 billion”.
So, today we’re asking: Do you think that healthcare workers and other frontline workers should get a pandemic bonus?
Cloudy with a shower in spots
Max: 20 °C
Min: 15 °C
A morning shower; variable clouds
Max: 19 °C
Min: 13 °C
