The children's charity's annual review, published today, shows it worked with more than 5,000 children and young people last year.
Barnardos says cutbacks in supports for vulnerable children could have devastating long-term consequences.
Last year in over 40 of Ireland's most marginalised communities, Barnardos worked intensively with 5,333 children, young people and their families - an increase of 10% on 2006.
More than half experienced risk factors ranging from being bullied to mental health issues and low self esteem.
The charity stressed that more public investment in children is needed, not less, at this time of economic strain, and urged the Government not to sacrifice Ireland's future for the sake of short-term savings.
Noting that critical services for families at risk already suffer from under-funding and staff shortages, it said any further cutbacks could have devastating and long-term consequences.
Barnardos Chief Executive Fergus Finlay quoted economist and Nobel Laureate James Heckman's finding that for every €1 invested early in a vulnerable child, at least €8 is saved later in areas such as unemployment benefit, crime, rehabilitation programmes, job training and teenage pregnancies.
