Barnardos recorded losses of €1.5 million last year, according to new figures published by the children’s charity.

The loss follows a 9 per cent decline in donations to the charity down from €7.4 million in 2010 to €6.8 million last year.

Total revenue at the charity fell from €24 million to €23.9 million, while employee costs increased from €16.9 million to €17.1 million.

Last August, the charity closed all its services and put its staff on unpaid leave for one week in an effort to save money.

The cost-cutting measure was the latest in a series of cuts Barnardos has had to make to ensure that we can continue to provide vital services to children and families at a time when they need us most, CEO Fergus Finlay said.

He said the funding cuts being imposed across the NGO sector had the potential to do “untold damage” to vulnerable children and families.