Volunteers with the ISPCC's Childline service have given mixed reactions to the criticisms levelled against the charity following revelations that its finances are being investigated by Garda fraud officers.
Some volunteers still working with the charity defended the recruitment procedures and spoke of the support given to those manning Childline. However, the ISPCC's controversial fund-raising methods, under which collectors were obliged to raise £300 each, have been the subject of stern criticism.
One woman said the fund-raising activities prompted her to leave the Childline service for which she trained. Clare, who is in her 30s, told RTE's Joe Duffy she was given an interview of only 15 minutes and then went straight into the course.
"Halfway through the course we were told that we had to sell these tickets and we had to sell them by June, £300 each. That took me aback a little, as I did not really like asking people for money," she told the Liveline programme.
Asked why she decided to stop her voluntary work with the ISPCC, she said it was "the fundraising aspect of things". Others feared the cost of failing to hand in the £300 could be their place on the Childline team, she claimed.
"I did not have the £300 to throw in myself, but I know people in the office that had to buy the tickets. Because of other reasons they could not canvass for tickets. They had to buy them themselves if they wanted to stay on line," she said.
She was also critical of the training methods. Despite very abusive phone calls to Childline from youngsters, particularly at weekends, there was little or no supervision of newly trained volunteers.
"I strongly feel there is a need for a service because children are lonely, and most people don't have time to listen to children these days. But I worry about the way this service is being run," she said.
Others, however, paint a very different picture of the operation. One volunteer, Breffni, told The Irish Times that allegations of poor training were simply "a joke".
She accepted that the work required a great deal of commitment, but emphasised that excellent back-up and support were always available.
Commenting on the large number of calls received by Childline and the small number of cases referred to social workers and gardai, she said Childline was primarily a listening service.
Children who alleged physical or sexual abuse and who gave identifying details had to be informed by volunteers that the information was being passed on. The child had to agree to this, and consequently few cases were referred. Since going on line last December, she had referred two cases.
Another Childline volunteer, who asked not to be named, told The Irish Times the criticisms made of the running of the charity by some volunteers were not representative and that he was upset at recent media coverage concerning the ISPCC.
After responding to a radio advertisement for volunteers last October, he had to complete a three or four-page questionnaire which he described as very thorough. He was then called to a group interview, followed by an eight-week course covering skills and training.
Despite initial nerves about taking calls, the training and support given gave him confidence, and his experience with Childline had been positive.
"Some children have the most horrific stories to tell and they depend on the line. It may be the only way of talking to someone in the circumstance they are in," he said.
"All the kids know the number now, and I think that is a fantastic thing."