About 30 families consistently leave their children, some aged less than four, begging on the streets of Dublin, according to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). The numbers are down on last year by 37 per cent, for which the ISPCC and the Garda deserve credit. But the agency still had almost 1,000 sightings of children begging last year.
In tandem with this unsatisfactory reality, it has emerged that hundreds of children under the age of 10 were dealt with by Garda Síochána juvenile liaison officers last year, after criminal behaviour was brought to Garda attention. The vast majority of such children come from marginalised communities.
Meanwhile, a woman in Galway died - apparently by suicide - after a decision was made by Galway City Council to evict her. This followed a number of complaints from other tenants about her anti-social behaviour. Local authorities have an obligation to ensure that the rights of all their tenants are upheld but, in this case, the eviction was apparently accompanied by an instruction to another agency that she be denied emergency accommodation.
It is a feature of this time of year in particular that agencies working with the homeless and those marginalised by poverty seek to highlight their plight. Charities responding to such needs deservedly receive significant public support. But the problems go beyond charity. They demonstrate that, despite the enormous wealth within our society, some continue to fall through cracks that have yet to be bridged.
Whether due to mental illness or a history of isolation and abuse, there are those on the fringes of society who exhibit challenging behaviour that housing alone will not resolve; or who make up the latest generation in that minority of families who have a tradition of begging.
Yet with the necessary political commitment and a determination to coordinate the activities of the different agencies, it is possible to deal effectively with children begging (which is itself against the law), or with youngsters engaging in criminal activity, or with adults who have behavioural deficiencies.
But problems of this nature cannot be left to voluntary agencies alone, notwithstanding their outstanding contribution to the task. They need adequate funding and support from the State, including the intervention of State agencies.
It may not be possible to ensure that no child is left behind or that no adult is deprived of emergency accommodation, but failure should not arise from lack of endeavour.