crisis point

Between this and the unrest in Chapare, the situation was nearing crisis point, and in 2004 president Carlos Mesa struck a compromise with the cocaleros, legalizing cultivation in the Chapare.

"Not only can you not afford to go to work, but you also cannot afford to live off one salary so families are at absolute crisis point because of the childcare costs in Northern Ireland."

Skye House, which opened in 2009, accepts children aged 12 to 18 who are usually at crisis point.

That needs to be "appreciated in our pay packet," she said, adding that the profession was "at crisis point" in terms of workload.

Director Anne Lyden said the organisation was at "crisis point" unless it managed to raise £40m over the next 10 years to address the condition of its buildings.