By Niall Murray
A CLAMPDOWN on child begging will help tackle the growing number of foreign nationals asking for money on the streetsJustice Minister John O'Donoghue's Children Act was passed by the Dáil last month, making it easier to prosecute parents of children found begging, as well as increasing penalties. Under the Children Act 2001, the onus on gardaí to prove in court that a parent knew their child was begging has been lifted. Penalties have been increased from a fine of up to £25 and/or three months in prison to a maximum £250 fine for a first conviction.

"This change will lead to strict enforcement against parents who wilfully neglect their children. But the minister is keen to promote prevention as an approach to tackling this distressing social problem," a Department of Justice spokesperson said.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, whose child begging intervention project Leanbh, has been allocated £90,000 funding from the Department of Justice, said the problem was growing.

"Traveller children and young homeless people are always involved, and our Leanbh project has already had an impact there in the last three years. But, unfortunately, we are seeing growing numbers of foreign nationals begging," said ISPCC chief executive Paul Gilligan.

The Leanbh project, set up in October 1997, has three full-time staff and 23 volunteers in Dublin, with a part-time worker and four volunteers in Cork.

The funding will help them employ workers from the Roma and Traveller communities and to develop a centre in Dublin, where children can call in.