In May 2016 Ana Liffey Drug Project undertook a research study to focus on four key questions:

• Is begging on the increase in Dublin City Centre?
• Who is involved in begging?
• What is the impact of begging?
• What could be done to reduce begging?

These are the questions reviewed, examined and analysed in this research study which was commissioned by Dublin City Council in May 2016. Undertaken between May and October 2016, the study included desktop research, observation, mapping, 45 semi structured 1:1 interviews with key informants and an online survey on begging which had 275 respondents. The study area of Dublin City Centre included the five districts of Dublin Town, running from Stephens Green to Parnell Square and from Capel Street to Amiens Street on the Northside of the city and Dawson Street to South Great Georges Street on the Southside of the city and the Temple Bar Cultural quarter.