The ISPCC is warning that its 24-hour support service "Childline" is in jeopardy. Its Annual General Meeting will hear today that controversies in the charity sector are pushing the service to breaking point.

The ISPCC is the latest group to report a falloff in donations in the wake of controversies like those which hit the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) and Rehab.

It is due to hold its AGM today and outline its financial situation.

Childline relies largely on donations, but did get some funding from the Health Service Executive (HSE) last year.

It has been in operation for 25 years.

In 2013, it was contacted about 650,000 times - and its phone and internet services responded to 450,000 of those.

Senator Jillian van Turnhout, who has worked with many childhood organisations, told Newstalk Breakfast that Childline must be there for Irish young people in need.