Tents along the Grand Canal in Dublin city have been dismantled.
100 asylum seekers who were sleeping there were removed early this morning.
The multi-agency operation involving Gardaí, the HSE, Dublin City Council, Waterways Ireland and the departments of justice and integration began at around 6.45 on Thursday morning.
Officials began shaking the tents on the Grand Canal to wake up the asylum seekers. Many of the men staying there washed their faces with bottled water and began gathering their belongings.
Tents being removed along the Grand Canal. 09/05/2024. Image: Stephanie RohanA statement from the Government says the men were taken by bus to IPAS centres with access to toilets, showers and food.
Last week, a similar operation removed another 100 tents from near the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street.
It comes amid criticism of an offer posted - saying a higher daily allowance would be offered to applicants who found private accommodation, rather than accepting tents.
Labour's Education and Justice spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, says the Government is not in control of the situation.
"We've gone from moving tents in Mount Street around St Patrick's weekend to moving them again last week, and now we have another tented village, that's sprung up.
"It appears now that there's no joint-up thinking at all. People are being asked to leave Crooksling. They're being told that if they don't take a tent and go into the private housing market, that they'll get a [higher] payment".
Reporting by Stephanie Rohan in Dublin city
