TENT TOWN

55 tents pitched along Grand Canal in Dublin just days after 100 removed in same location

A site has been earmarked for state asylum seeker accommodation

• Published: 15:03, 24 May 2024
• Updated: 15:04, 24 May 2024

SOME 55 tents have been pitched along Dublin’s Grand Canal just days after 100 were removed from the same location.

A multi-agency operation took place at the spot on Tuesday – with barriers erected.

The encampment of around 100 tents that were torn down earlier this week started on May 9 when 26 tents were pitched between McCartney Bridge and Leeson Street Bridge.

There were no buses available to bring the inhabitants to state accommodation as has been seen previously at operations like this.

Those who had been living in the tents were instead advised to get public transport to their new locations.

The camp had continued to grow for two weeks after being set up on the same day Gardai, Dublin City Council and the HSE cleared over 100 tents from elsewhere along the Grand Canal.

Despite the tents being cleared on Tuesday and barriers being set up in an attempt to prevent further tent towns developing, even more tents have appeared along the the Grand Canal once again.

The current encampment is covered by tarpaulin making the exact number difficult to pinpoint but it is estimated to be around 55.

The tents are set up on a grass at either side of the canal where there are no barriers blocking areas off.

It comes after Tanaiste Micheal Martin said is “not a good idea” for charities to provide tents to unaccommodated asylum seekers.