Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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450. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons arrested and charged with begging in a public place within the DMR in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22876/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, under Irish legislation it is not an offence, in and of itself, to beg. However, Irish legislation does contain a number of targeted measures to deal with certain public order offences indirectly connected with some aspects of begging. These are contained in the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2011.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was conducted for all incidents of ‘Begging’ in the Dublin Region where persons were subsequently arrested, and which resulted in a charge or summons.

I am advised that in 2023, 116 people were arrested for this offence. I am further advised that 28 people were arrested between 1 January 2024 and 16 May 2024.