Toddlers begging on streets

ONE in three reported sightings of children begging on the streets this year involved toddlers less than four years of age.

The overall incidence of juvenile begging increased by 17% to 1,556 reported sightings in the 12 months to last September, according to Leanbh the special service operated by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for dealing with children who beg.

Although Leanbh reported a sharp increase in the number of children from the Roma (gypsy) community who were begging, it also recorded a drop of 22% in sightings of begging by young Travellers.

It is estimated that about 100 children from some 50 families are engaged on a regular basis in begging on the streets of Dublin. Speaking during the launch of the service's annual report yesterday, Leanbh regional manager Tracey Bolger said 210 children were no longer engaged in begging as a result of intervention by its staff.

Ms Bolger said the decrease in the number of sightings of Traveller children reflected a growing awareness among that community about the dangers of begging and the desirability of having a proper education for their children.

Contrary to common perception, she claimed the incidence of parents forcing their children to go out

begging was more the exception than the rule.

"The effort and advancements these families are making in an attempt to do better for their children is immense," said Ms Bolger. She also attributed the increase in the number of sightings of Roma children begging as a result of the overall rise in the number of Roma parents engaged in the same activity.

Although the study is confined to Dublin, Leanbh claims the problem exists in most major cities and towns around Ireland. Ms Bolger said the increase in the number of reported sightings in 2003 highlighted the inability of the statutory child protection services to deal with the issue.

"Despite the best efforts and commitment of the individual social workers and childcare workers working with these children, health board structures and resources are simply not adequate to deal with these issues," said Ms Bolger. Suzanne McClean, a childhood support worker, said the principal problem relating to Traveller children was poor accommodation and a general lack of play areas which made them "one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in Irish society".

Her colleague, Adriana Blic, said the most serious difficulty faced by Roma children was integrating with the wider community due to language problems.

While parents bore the primary responsibility to ensure children did not beg, ISPCC chief executive Paul

Gilligan said the vast majority of members of the Traveller and Roma communities were doing their best to educate their children.

He also encouraged members of the public not to give money to children who beg but instead to report any sightings to Leanbh or the relevant authorities.