More than 1,000 Irish kids needing help contacted Childline on Christmas Day

Volunteers at the ISPCC's phone, text and online services responded to 1,176 calls, texts and messages on Christmas Day.

Childline said 70 volunteers from across the country manned contact lines to provide "support and reassurance", to young people.

The agency also said that it received almost 900 contacts from children concerned about homelessness throughout the year.

ISPCC Childline Chief Executive Grainia Long said "Many of the children who contacted Childline on Christmas Day were concerned about the effects of alcohol being consumed in the home, while several others were alone, or looking after siblings and feeling isolated and lonely."