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Ireland urged to prioritize Safer Internet Centres funding
🇮🇪 Ireland /Technology

Ireland urged to prioritize Safer Internet Centres funding

From RTÉ News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The ISPCC is urging the Irish Government to prioritize funding for Safer Internet Centres across Europe.
  • These centers support children experiencing online harm through helplines and awareness campaigns, and help report illegal content.
  • At least 13 EU member states face disruption as their centers were not awarded recent EU funding, prompting calls for stable, long-term financial support.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) is calling on the Irish Government to champion funding for Safer Internet Centres (SICs) across Europe. These vital services offer crucial support to children who have suffered online harm, providing helplines, hotlines, and awareness campaigns. They also play a role in enabling the public to report illegal content found online.

Without urgent action, children risk losing access to trusted services they know and rely on when they need help, support or protection.

— joint statementThe groups warned about the potential disruption to Safer Internet Centres due to funding issues.

In a joint statement, the ISPCC, Child Helpline International, INHOPE, and other European child helplines have appealed to both the Irish Government and the European Commission to secure the future of these centers. A significant concern is that SICs in at least 13 EU member states, along with some accession countries, are facing serious disruption. This is because they were not successful in the most recent EU grant round and were placed on a waiting list.

We’re calling on the Irish Government to use their position during the EU presidency to ensure that the future and vital funding for Safer Internet Centres (SICs) across Europe is provided for in the next Multiannual Financial Framework and more specifically under the EU Commission’s newly proposed European Competitiveness Fund.

— John ChurchThe CEO of ISPCC outlined the specific actions and funding mechanisms the government should pursue.

"Without urgent action, children risk losing access to trusted services they know and rely on when they need help, support or protection," the joint statement warned. While the European Commission is providing temporary funding, the groups emphasize the need for stable, long-term financial commitment to sustain these essential services. John Church, CEO of ISPCC, stated, "We’re calling on the Irish Government to use their position during the EU presidency to ensure that the future and vital funding for Safer Internet Centres (SICs) across Europe is provided for in the next Multiannual Financial Framework and more specifically under the EU Commission’s newly proposed European Competitiveness Fund." He added that securing sustainable funding is a necessary step to fulfill commitments to protect children online.

Securing sustainable funding for SICs is a necessary step to realise the EU’s and Irish Government’s commitment to protect children online.

— Mr ChurchISPCC CEO emphasized the link between sustainable funding and governmental commitments to online child safety.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by RTÉ News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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