A significant operation to clear a makeshift asylum seeker camp along Dublin’s Grand Canal saw workers marking and removing around 80 tents, with dozens of male asylum seekers offered accommodation in state-provided shelters. The action, involving various authorities and volunteers, has prompted concerns from local aid workers and politicians over the handling of the situation.
On Thursday, 30 May 2024, a significant operation was conducted to clear a makeshift asylum seeker camp in Dublin, Ireland. The action, which commenced around 7 am, took place along the Grand Canal. Workers marked approximately 80 tents with numbers before collecting them for disposal.
The operation, the third at the canal this month and the fifth in Dublin in recent months, saw dozens of male asylum seekers being informed they would be moved to state-provided shelters if they boarded the coaches that had arrived. The Irish government has noted it currently cannot provide accommodation for all male asylum seekers. At the time of the operation, 1,939 applicants were awaiting accommodation.
Contractors began erecting barriers around the site from 5 am, and Gardaí (Irish police) arrived around 6:45 am. Volunteers played a significant role in ensuring the asylum seekers, many of whom were sleeping rough, were awake and packed before the removal started. By the end of the operation, 109 applicants were offered accommodation, with 13 going to Crooksling and 96 to Citywest.
Representatives from the health service, Waterways Ireland, and other authorities were present during the process. The government has been operating multiple state-provided shelters, offering robust tents equipped with facilities such as toilets, showers, and areas for food, medical services, transportation, and security.
The actions have raised concerns among local aid workers and politicians. Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Fein, criticized the government for its handling of the situation and called for better communication with communities and more resources for the international protection system.
Local volunteer Olivia Headon expressed concerns about the ongoing crisis and the spread of misinformation about the asylum seekers. She emphasized the need for more emergency accommodations and better facilities for those sleeping rough.
The government states its commitment to providing safe and sanitary conditions for asylum seekers but acknowledges the challenges in meeting the demands.