Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

162. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take steps to ensure the EU missing children hotline number (116000) is displayed prominently and widely across key public locations (details supplied) given the recent report by Missing Children Europe which highlights the public’s lack of awareness of this critical service; the annual funding provided by the State to support the operation of the 116000 hotline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24794/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116 000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. In Ireland, the 116 000 Missing Children Hotline (MCH) number is operated by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). The MCH is not an emergency number but is available to provide emotional support and advice to young people and adults in relation to missing children. Any caller seeking to report a missing child is advised to notify the Gardaí at 999 or 112. The MCH can be contacted for free 24 hours a day every day and a Missing Children Website is also in operation.

My Department provides annual funding of €89,000 to the ISPCC towards the cost of operating the MCH.

The ISPCC promotes and signposts the MCH online and across social media where they target parents and children to raise awareness of the service. Bill board static advertising is not used as a promotion tool by ISPCC. In addition to on-line advertising, when children and young people go missing and the ISPCC is officially notified by the Gardaí, the missing persons are profiled on the Missing Children section of ispcc.ie and this is also shared on social media. The ISPCC also promotes the MCH through outreach and attendance at Transition Year events.