It was raised at the Laois JPC by Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley.
Gardaí have committed to cracking down an aggressive begging in Portlaoise.
The issue of beggars intimidating shoppers in Lyster Square was raised by Sinn Féin councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley at a meeting of the Laois Joint Policing Committee yesterday.
She says Chief Superintendent John Scanlan guaranteed that he and a newly-formed Community Policing Group will deal with the issue.
Councillor Dwane Stanley says she's seen people being harassed first hand, with the situation deteriorating in recent weeks:
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