New hotline established for missing children

A NEW number has been allocated to the Irish Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) for the provision of a
hotline for missing children.

Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000
number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children’s hotline.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances
Fitzgerald TD, said she had committed to work with relevant departments and
agencies to establish the hotline this year.

“I wish to
commend the commitment and interest shown by the ISPCC in seeking to progress
the provision of this hotline,

? she said.

“The project team will now work to ensure that it
becomes operational as soon as possible and operates in a way that supports and
augments existing arrangements to secure child protection.

?