SEA SPOT

Asylum seekers set up camp on Dublin beach just days after Grand Canal tent city torn down

Taoiseach Simon Harris has vowed that ‘Team Ireland’ will continue to flatten tent villages

• Published: 15:24, 13 May 2024
• Updated: 15:25, 13 May 2024

ASLYUM seekers pitched tents on a popular Dublin beach over the weekend.

The camp, which appears to have less than 10 tents, was set up just days after dozens of tents were blitzed from the Grand Canal, with the Taoiseach warning that asylum seekers need to follow the rules.

Pictures circulating on social media yesterday and this morning appear to show more tents pitched on Sandymount Strand.

The latest encampment is over two kilometres away from the previous tent town, which was located on the Grand Canal.

Last Thursday, some 163 individuals were “safely moved” to International Protection Accommodation Service designated accommodation by crews.

The multi-agency operation involved workers clearing around 100 tents and marking them with an “X” when they were emptied, with a grab loader then picking up each empty tent and adding them to the pile.

Officials from the Departments of Integration and Justice, An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council, HSE and Waterways Ireland participated in the operation.

It was confirmed that the migrants were relocated to Crooksling and the former Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum.

But it is understood that the government expects it will have to continue moving up to 250 asylum seekers a week from tent towns in Dublin to accommodation.

Taoiseach Simon Harris last week vowed that ‘Team Ireland’ will continue to flatten tent villages that pop up around the country.

He said: “We took action in relation to Mount Street. Issues will arise from time to time – we saw an issue arise in the Grand Canal and action was taken – swift action.

“We didn’t see a situation go on for weeks and months as you had previously seen in relation to Mount Street.

He said the tents pitched on Sandymount Strand are “not suitable and reemohasises the need for a proper Govt response.”

He added: “Empty public buildings must be repurposed.”

Dublin Bay South’s Cllr James Geoghegan said: “I contacted local Gardai in Irish Town Garda station on Sunday morning as well as Dublin City Council and Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s Department. 

“I understand the tents are no longer present, and hopefully, those who were sleeping in these tents have now been provided accommodation.