Asylum-seekers set up camp in Ballsbridge as areas along Grand Canal fenced off at a cost of €36,000

Eight tents were pitched on a small green space where Wellington Road, Clyde Road, Pembroke Park and Wellington Place converge in the heart of the residential belt of the south Dublin suburb.

In the centre of the huddled tents, large bottles of water could be seen, but there are no sanitation facilities in the area.

When the asylum-seekers woke yesterday morning and emerged from the tents they used the water to drink and wash with, pouring it over their heads and faces.

Another large-scale operation to remove tents got underway at 6am on Thursday morning and around 100 asylum-seekers on the Grand Canal at Baggot Street Bridge were taken away by bus when accommodation was found for them at Citywest and Crooksling.

A similar operation was mounted in the same area the week before on Tuesday, May 21 when accommodation was found for around 100 migrants camping at the location.

Prior to that there was a dismantling of a large camp on the canal on Mount Street on Thursday, May 9.

All this followed the dismantling of a large-scale camp that had grown over the space of 14 months around the International Protection Office on Mount Street Lower and the surrounding Grattan Street, back streets and laneways.

The Light House homeless charity has said it is still distributing tents to people where there is no alternative accommodation.

Meanwhile, Waterways Ireland has said the cost of erecting fencing along sections of the Grand Canal since May 1 is estimated at €36,000.

The fencing started to be erected after migrants began camping along the canal bank, and was put up in an effort to stop more camps being established.

Fencing now stretches from Clanwilliam Place near Grand Canal Dock all the way to Portobello Road between Portobello Bridge at Rathmines and Emmet Bridge in Harold’s Cross, a distance of close to 3km.

The fencing is being hired.

Waterways Ireland has said it is seriously concerned for the health and safety of people staying in tents by the canal, and about the impact of the lack of sanitation facilities.

A spokesperson said it is continuing to work with multi-agency partners in the best interests of all concerned.

“Costs associated with the erection of fencing at various sections of the Grand Canal in Dublin due to the tented encampments have not as yet been finalised. However an estimate of costs to date are projected at €36,000,” they said.

“Whilst temporary barriers have been erected as a mitigation and public safety measure, access to the towpath and footpath adjacent to the canal is largely unimpeded. Waterways Ireland will consult with agency partners and local residents regarding the replacement of temporary fencing with ecologically sensitive landscaping solutions appropriate to the canal corridor and surrounding cityscapes.

“This is a very dynamic and sensitive situation and a timeline for completion of these landscaping works is not currently available.”