I appreciate the Minister's interest in this matter but I should like to know why the Garda will not look after the children who are begging in many parts of the city, particularly on O'Connell bridge? Even in the bad weather children of itinerants beg in the city. They appear to have been given a special licence to beg in many parts of the city. This is cruel to the children and in my view they are being exploited. Will the Minister ask the Garda to take some remedial measures? Will he see to it that they are fed, housed or something?

The implications in the Deputy's question are very many because they go into the entire problem of itinerant settlement. That is the only way in which the problem he poses could be settled properly. I will convey the Deputy's concern to the Garda authorities.

Perhaps a special ban-gharda should be assigned to the job.