Has the Government really addressed the recurring encampments of asylum seekers along the Grand Canal, or does it represent a larger issue?
On the 17th August, protestors from coalition group Take Back Our Spaces removed sections of fencing near Baggot Street Bridge that had been commissioned by Waterways Ireland, in an effort to prevent asylum seekers from pitching tents along the Grand Canal. The protestors demonstrated outside the Department of Integration office at Milesian Plaza, calling upon the Government to provide sufficient accommodation for asylum seekers.
John McDonagh, CEO of Waterways Ireland, has previously attested before a Committee of Public Accounts that the erection and maintenance of the metal fencing up until July had cost the agency €125,000, and that ongoing monthly operational and maintenance costs could reach up to €30,000. An article by The University Times estimates that by the time the fencing is removed in October, it will have cost the state approximately €390,000.
Since early May, newly arrived International Protection Applicants have pitched tents along the Grand Canal, near the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street in Dublin, with most tents pitched between Mount Street Bridge and Huband Bridge. Whilst they await the outcome of their applications, counter efforts by state and state-affiliated agencies to clear and relocate occupants have been unsuccessful in preventing their reappearance. Each encampment varies in size, with some of the largest sites having as many as 100 tents, amid limited access to sanitary facilities.
Speaking with Newstalk’s Andrea Gilligon in May, one volunteer at the encampment commented that asylum seekers have received threats and abuse from passers-by. She also noted that locals have provided supplies to alleviate the “dire humanitarian situation” which local authorities have sought to remedy through the “cosmetic solution” of removing the encampments.
The first encampment was cleared on May 9 by a joint operation of government departments, An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council, Waterways Ireland, and the HSE. 163 individuals were relocated to International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS)-designated accommodation in Crooksling and a former mental-health institution in Dundrum, both locations said to have sanitary facilities, indoor areas, and food provided.
Taoiseach Simon Harris commented on May 9, shortly after the encampment was cleared, that the operation by “Team Ireland” to clear the “tent city” represents his desire for a greater collaborative effort between government departments and agencies to address the growing issues associated with migration. He further stated his intention to prevent further encampments, while also acknowledging that accommodation for migrants is “extraordinarily poor.”
Over the course of the Summer, further clearings have taken place, with trucks and cranes being used to remove tents. Waterways Ireland is pursuing a more permanent solution to prevent further encampments along the canal through the Activation and Animation Plan.
According to figures published by the Department of Justice, the number of applications for international protection increased significantly in 2024, compared to the previous year. At the end of June, approximately 10,600 applications were reported to have been submitted. This represents more than a 90% increase upon 2023 figures, with applicants from Nigeria and Jordan constituting the largest share.
The Department has stated that the total number of applications could reach as high as 25,000 before the end of the year. With the state failing to accommodate current applicants, pressure will mount on the Government to adequately accommodate future applicants.