A Garda permit may be required in certain circumstances for fundraising. Permits are issued by An Garda Siochana under the Street and House to House Collection Act, 1962. Permits are issued directly to HOPE, so any questions you have regarding permits should be directed to your HOPE group leader and not your local Garda station.

No permit is required when you are selling Butlers HOPE chocolate bars in public places. Under Section 2 of the Casual Trading Act, this is not required when selling items “that any profits there from are for use for charitable purposes or for other purposes from which no private profit is derived”. Please refer anyone who may ask about this to your HOPE group leader.

A ‘public place’ is any area that is not privately owned and operated, and where the public have free access.

Selling without a permit is not automatically permitted in any location that can be considered PRIVATE, including Shopping centres, churches, inside stadium grounds/events. Obviously this excludes your own private property e.g. your home.