As part of the Children's Hour fund-raising campaign, the week beginning next Monday, has been designated "Financial Week" when individuals in the financial industry will be asked to donate their final hour's earnings of the millennium to benefit childrens' charities in Ireland.

Children's Hour chairman, Mr Bill Cullen said the project was "about reaching out to those who have been lost by the system and society in the 90s and telling them that they have a future and there are people who care".

The venture claims to be Ireland's biggest fundraising project and has been assisted by the National Lottery to ensure that the money raised goes to more than one hundred childrens' charities.

According to the organisers, for the scheme to work, Children's Hour "Champions" will be needed in every company or business to co-ordinate the wage donations. Next week all those associated with banks, building societies, credit unions, insurance, pension funds, investment, accountancy and taxation will be invited to pledge their donations.