Dublin's "homeless" Roma

It is really up the management of the shops. It is illegal for people to beg within 5m of a shop.

There are two shops near where I work, one always has (multiple) beggars and people collecting for charities outside, it is a 'manager' run Spar and the manager has changed several times over the years. The other shop is family run and they will get rid of any beggar or charity collector within minutes of them settings up. I have see them doing it, it takes nothing more than telling them they are not wanted.

Honestly, I know one or two working in construction. Not a lot of people to be sure, and with those people having to support large extended families the extra income doesn't get them very far but they do exist. They are also extremely unlikely to tell coworkers etc that they are Roma.

As to the general discussion on the thread, the ones that are here are generally members of 2 or 3 large families and largely as part of a multinational begging operation operating out of Romania and to a lesser extent Bulgaria. They live in run-down substandard accomodation in large groups and run begging teams in shifts. When enough of them get in trouble with the gardai for one thing or another, they leave for Romania and are swiftly replaced by another group from the same family and up to the same thing - and on it goes.

With that said for the most part they are not claiming any benefits (usually down to lack of knowledge of the system and failure to satisfy habitual residency clauses) and really do live in destitution while here. Most have severe educational deficits, are illiterate and speak basic English if any. Women in particular have little way out of that lifestyle even if they wanted to leave it - they are taken out of school and married off as early as possible, often relocating to where her husband is especially when married off very young.

The fact that they severely restrict their engagement with outsiders means they can't rely on the support of anyone outside their group, which is often also their extended family. This means there is very little chance of individuals in that lifestyle to escape it really.

Are they ever going to integrate? Unlikely. Are they as a community with some exceptions generally taking the piss? Yes. Do they hold their own people back when adhering to this lifestyle? Most definately. However individuals in that life often have few options by the time they are in a position to theoretically make choices - they get by in what way they can, same as everyone else. It doesn't make them our problem but why they do what they do makes a lot more sense when you look at all the factors stacked against them (both by others and by themselves).

When you see the Roma taking over a Dubs stronghold like Moore St, it's not good, the tobacco sellers should hang their heads in shame.

De're crimmigrants, Joe, coming over heah an' takin' eer tapping jobs, Joe.

The English Roma are not integrated.

I worked as a liason officer and English Gypsies, Roma, Irish Travellers and Travelling Showpeople all identify as distinct separate ethnicities.

Actually Turkey has the highest population by some margin then Romania and Bulgaria, they are actually more or less persecuted in these countries to the point where if 1 would be murdered the police just write it off. Somewhat strange folk in general with a complete lack of drive to work and begging is the preference but also involved in serious crime. Usually cordoned off in the latter countries - have their own towns, mostly stick to them too for the most part.