Third Clearance Of Tents From Dublin’s Grand Canal

This morning, around 100 tents used by asylum seekers were removed from Dublin’s Grand Canal, marking the third such operation this month. The multi-agency effort began at 6:30am, with contractors erecting additional barriers as early as 5am.

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The tents, previously covered with blue tarpaulins near Baggot Street Bridge, were cleared and the encampment dismantled. At 8am, five buses transported 109 individuals who were offered accommodation. Fresh barriers were then installed around the site.

Dublin’s Grand Canal Tents Removal Followed by Government Warning and Accommodation Offers

The Government issued a letter to asylum seekers, warning that continued stay at the canal constitutes a criminal offence. In a statement, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth noted that several beds had been made available at Citywest, with outreach efforts identifying eligible individuals for accommodation.

At present, 1,939 applicants are awaiting accommodation, although hundreds have received state-provided shelter. Taoiseach Simon Harris emphasised the importance of inter-agency cooperation in migration policy, expressing gratitude for the coordinated efforts of various state agencies.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan reiterated the commitment to treating asylum seekers with respect, acknowledging the challenging task of scaling up facilities to accommodate over 120,000 recent arrivals. Ryan stressed the importance of providing safe alternatives to encampments like those near the canal.