A new helpline has been launched to provide emotional support for the parents and families of missing children.
Young people in distress are also encouraged to use the helpline, which has been set up by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
The phone number is 116 000.
Around 6,000 cases of missing children are reported to gardaí every year.
Service manager for the society Rhona McGinn said that when a child goes missing, it is hard for families to know what to do.
Ms McGinn said: "One of the things that people need to be aware of is the myth that they do not actually have to wait for 24 hours to make that phone call.
"So after that initial phone call has been made the ISPCC is here to provide emotional support.
"As part of 116 000 there is a service where, with parental consent, we will send a supportive text message to a young person to let them know that they can call us in confidence."
