It has been reported that roughly 100 tents which were used by asylum seekers have been removed from Dublin’s Grand Canal, the third operation carried out at this canal this month.
This comes following previous multi-agency responses to remove tents which took place across the city.
The operation to remove these tents began at around 6.30am this morning, after contractors started erecting additional barriers around the site around 5am.
Overall, 109 people have been offered accommodation this morning.
Following the removal of these tents onto a lorry, the blue tarpaulins which were covering these tents in the encampment were taken away, near the Baggot Street Bridge along the Grand Canal.
Five buses carrying the men left just before 8am, with fresh barriers erected at the canal.
Government Statement
Asylum seekers received a letter, telling them that if they continue to stay at the canal, they are committing a criminal offence.
In a statement released this morning, the Government have revealed that several beds have been made available in the Citywest over recent days.
This also led to offers of accommodation which were made to those who were applying for International Protection while awaiting accommodation.
The statement read: “The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with the support of a number of homeless charities, conducted outreach visits at the Grand Canal”.
“Any individual identified as eligible for International Protection accommodation at one or more of those outreach visits was offered accommodation at Citywest”.
At the time of writing, there were 1,939 applicants waiting to be offered accommodation. Hundreds of people have been offered State-provided shelter.
“cannot have a siloed approach”
Speaking on this morning’s operation, Taoiseach Simon Harris has stated that it shows how all agencies are working together. He also added that shelter and accommodation is only one part of the migration policy.
“Irish people are compassionate, they are also full of common sense. Both elements must always be demonstrated by Government too”, Mr Harris insists.
On this issue, he also said that he wanted to show his gratitude to “many State agencies who are now working closely together on the issue of immigration”.
He also added, “I have been very clear that we cannot have a siloed approach to migration. All agencies must work together to deliver a comprehensive response”.
Elsewhere, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan insisted that people who are looking for accommodation will be treated with the utmost respect, with many coming from “deeply fraught and traumatised situations”.
Stating that the row of tents near the canal was not safe, Mr Ryan had this to say.
“Our job is to make sure we have those alternative facilities. That’s been really challenging, because over 120,000 people came into the country in a short period. So, scaling that up – we’ll do that”.
