asked the Minister for Health if he will consider having investigated the reasons why there are so many children begging in the Dublin streets, in view of the dangers to the children and the seeming neglect of their education and general welfare.
Written Answers. - Children Begging.
405.
The Eastern Health Board, in co-operation with Dublin Corporation, the Dublin Committee for Travelling People, the Department of Education and my own Department, have kept this problem under review for quite some time.
The interim report of the Task Force on Child Care Services recommended the provision of residential and day-care facilities to help solve the problems of travelling children in the Dublin city area. With the aid of grants from the Eastern Health Board, the Dublin Committee for Travelling People acquired Trudder House, Newtownmountkennedy, which is now catering for up to 20 homeless children.
In November 1977, the Eastern Health Board, in co-operation with the Department of Education, assisted the Dublin Committee to establish a special school and day centre for children of the more deprived and unsettled travelling people. This centre is now based in Great Strand Street, Dublin.
It is hoped that these projects will help to resolve the problems of the children involved.