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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 3

Written Answers. - Child Begging.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

142 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the sanctions open to gardaí pending the full introduction of the Children (Juvenile Justice) Bill, 1999, to curb child begging and child street busking; the discussions he has had with Garda Commissioner with regard to curbing this activity; the action the Garda is taking in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7326/01]

Section 14 of the Children Act, 1908, provides the current legislative response to child begging, including child busking. The Children Bill, 1999, which is at present before the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, proposes to update this section by placing an evidential burden on any person who has custody, charge or care of a child to show that he or she did not allow the child to be in any street or public place, or to make house to house visits, for the purpose of begging. Under the Bill, the penalty for allowing a child to beg would be increased from a maximum of £25 to a maximum of £250 for a first offence and £500 for any subsequent offence.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, although most areas experience some form of begging, the problem is most prevalent in Dublin city. The Garda Síochána is actively involved with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Leanbh project, which works with children sighted begging and the parents of these children. Members of the Garda Síochána attached to the Pearse Street, Harcourt Terrace and Store Street stations have been appointed to liaise with Leanbh workers. Ongoing daily contact takes place and monthly meetings are convened.

Members of the Garda Síochána and the Leanbh project have identified the majority of families whose children beg and Leanbh personnel work with them in a holistic way on an outreach basis. I understand that members of the Garda Síochána on the ground consider that the problem of child begging has decreased since the commencement of Leanbh.

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