Child begging decreases - ISPCC

The number of children begging on the streets in Dublin has fallen slightly in the past year, according to figures released by an outreach service run by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC).

The Leanbh service identifies children begging, makes contact with them and begins to link them into other services. The service works in conjunction with other NGOs and the HSE.

Its annual report for 2005/2006 indicates there was an overall decrease in sightings of children begging of 3.7 per cent, from 785 in 2004/05 to 756 in 2005/06. These are sightings and not individual children.

A spokeswoman said there had been a "significant decline" in the numbers of children begging since Leanbh was established in 1997, when there were 2,872 sightings recorded.

She estimated there were about 30 children begging regularly in Dublin, many of which come from the Traveller and Roma communities.

"The numbers involved have gone down. However, there are still many children and young people begging on the streets, a fact that reinforces the original aims of Leanbh as it strives to combat children begging on the streets," said the spokeswoman.

"They remain among the most vulnerable and at-risk group of children within Irish society."

They were often being deprived of their constitutional right to an education; they may be out in harsh weather and be at risk of emotional, physical or sexual abuse, she said.

"The likelihood of such children ending up in petty crime and becoming criminalised is very high."

She said there were homeless children, who had run away from difficult home circumstances, among the young people begging, which was most prevalent in Dublin and large urban areas.