asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the suggestion of a person (name supplied) in Dublin that, in the event of the parents' of itinerant children being taken into custody, the existence of dependent children be ascertained or that the Garda authorities immediately contact the various voluntary agencies to obtain such information to ensure the wellbeing of the children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Itinerant Children's Wellbeing.
8.
As I have already informed the Deputy in reply to his written inquiry, an instruction has been issued to the force to the effect that where an itinerant is detained who has, or is believed to have, a young child or children who might because of the detention be exposed to neglect or hardship, the member of the Garda Síochána responsible for the detention should notify the local Itinerant Settlement Committee, the Child Welfare Service of the local health board or the local ISPCC inspector.
I should like to know if any case has come to the attention of the Minister in recent times of children being found abandoned? I should like to thank the Minister for his reply to the question; it tightens up the system considerably.
This matter arose from a case reported to me. I took the matter up with the Garda Síochána and as a result a circular on the lines of my reply to the Deputy's question was issued.
I appreciate the Minister's interest in this matter but I should like to know why the Garda will not look after the children who are begging in many parts of the city, particularly on O'Connell bridge? Even in the bad weather children of itinerants beg in the city. They appear to have been given a special licence to beg in many parts of the city. This is cruel to the children and in my view they are being exploited. Will the Minister ask the Garda to take some remedial measures? Will he see to it that they are fed, housed or something?
The implications in the Deputy's question are very many because they go into the entire problem of itinerant settlement. That is the only way in which the problem he poses could be settled properly. I will convey the Deputy's concern to the Garda authorities.
Perhaps a special ban-gharda should be assigned to the job.