The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children reported a sharp decrease in the number of children begging in Dublin in the year ended last September, compared with the previous 12 months.
There was a 26 per cent decrease in the number of children sighted begging in the city and a 38 per cent drop in children begging alone, according to Leanbh, ISPCC's pilot project which monitors and works with street children.
However, there was an increase in the number of foreign children begging, most of them Romanian refugees.
Leanbh, which was set up in October 1997, works with child beggars in a variety of ways, according to the group's childhood support worker, Ms Laura Harrington. Volunteers help staff monitor the number of children on the streets. Staff workers intervene if the family gives permission.
"We would find our clients in two ways," Ms Harrington said. "We approach them on the streets and we also get calls from the gardai if they arrest the children."
Contact with the family is crucial in helping street children, Ms Harrington said. "We will visit the family, bring toys for the children and build up a sense of trust because these children have so many problems."
Leanbh caseworkers attempt to address the emotional, social and safety needs of the child. Leanbh works closely with other social service agencies to help the whole family.
"We will call the [Dublin] Corporation to help with housing, the health board for medical problems and even the Department of Justice for legal problems," Ms Harrington said. "Only through co-operation with other groups can we provide lasting solutions."
Working with street children presents many obstacles, she said. Language is an issue for many Roma families.
"Refugee children have even more problems than other children on the streets," Ms Harrington said. "There are issues of loss, for the country they left, the homes, and often there are other siblings there too.
"Abuse happens to anyone begging from the public, but I've heard of Roma beggar children being beaten up by Irish street children," she added.
Ms Harrington worked recently with one family of Romanians who came to Ireland a year ago from Cluj. The family does not wish to be identified.
The older daughter, who is now 18, was busking while the nine-year-old danced in the street. "They made a fortune," Ms Harrington said, "but the younger daughter has a heart problem. I met them when the older daughter was arrested."
The parents now sell the Big Issues and are having problems with housing and obtaining social welfare.
Last week Leanbh opened the Children's Way, a forest walk in Avondale, Co Wicklow. The one-mile trail will eventually include four play areas for children.