Fianna Fail Councillor Joe Malone raised the issue of women and children begging on the streets in Kilkenny in recent times at this month’s meeting of Kilkenny Borough Council.
Cllr Malone said that women from outside the city were being dropped off with young babies to beg on the streets on a daily basis.
He asked the executive whether anything could be done by the local authority to tackle the issue.
However Town clerk Brian Tyrell told the members that the issue was a matter for the Gardai and the joint policing committee which will meet in September.
“The Garda powers are also limited in this issue,” he said.
“If children’s welfare is at risk the Gardai have little power to do anything. However, we can bring it to the attention of the Gardai and the HSE. We as a local authority have no function or role in tackling this issue,” he concluded.
