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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 1

Written Answers. - Street Begging.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

74 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the status of proposals which she has promised in response to earlier parliamentary questions to deal with children begging on the streets with or without the consent of their parents; when she proposes to introduce legislative changes, if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16967/96]

Section 14 of the Children Act, 1908, provides that where a parent sends his or her child out to beg, the parent will, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding £25. Alternatively, or in default of payment of such fine, or in addition to the fine, the parent may be liable to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.

In addition, section 3 of the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act, 1847, provides that a parent who causes, procures or encourages his or her child to beg, is liable to be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one month.

In practice, however, the Garda have experienced considerable difficulty in enforcing this legislation, particularly because of the need to prove that the parent sent the child out to beg.

Following an examination of the legislation at present in operation, I decided to update and strengthen the law in this regard. The Children Bill, which will replace the Children Act, 1908, with a comprehensive modern statute dealing with all aspects of juvenile justice, will give greater protection to children from being sent out to beg by their parents.

The provision in section 3 of the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act, 1847, which relates to procuring children to beg will be repealed in line with a recommendation from the Law Reform Commission in their report on vagrancy and related offences.

I expect to publish the Children Bill within the next few weeks.

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