Rough sleeping asylum seekers moved from Merrion Square

Unaccommodated asylum seekers sleeping in tents have once again been told to move and some of their tents were removed.

Around 35 International Protection applicants were told they had to move from where they had pitched their tents along Merrion Square in Dublin 2.

Taste of Dublin takes place in Merrion Square this weekend.

Gardaí and members of Dublin City Council’s Waste Management staff were in attendance.

It was the second such operation this week, following a Dublin City Council-led operation on Tuesday to remove tents from Leeson Street.

In a statement, Dublin City Council said that the tents were removed “with the support of An Garda Síochána…under the 1993 Roads Act”.

“The occupants moved without incident and the tents and debris that were left behind were removed by City Council Waste Management staff,” a spokesperson said.

“We understand the Government is working on a daily basis to co-ordinate its activities in response to the overall daily arrivals, and to assess capacity to accommodate those seeking international protection in a constantly-evolving situation. The City Council will continue to support the Government in its efforts,” they said.

Outside of these operations volunteer Olivia Headon said that the men have also been told to move on other occasions by gardaí, some more than seven times in the last week.

In a statement, a garda spokesperson said that “over recent days and weeks An Garda Síochána has supported various Statutory Agencies including IPAS, DCC and Waterways Ireland in engaging with International Protection Applicants and the removal of tents and other discarded property where necessary.

“The primary role of An Garda Síochána at such operations is to prevent a breach of the peace or any public order incident,” they said.

“An Garda Síochána also has an obligation to respond to complaints being received about encampments,” they added.

It is understood that some of the men whose tents were removed this morning received offers of accommodation this afternoon, as they had been referred for priority accommodation as rough sleepers.

Others remain without an offer of state-provided shelter.

The latest statistics released by the Department of Integration show that there are currently 2,067 male asylum seekers awaiting an offer of State accommodation.

This is up 61 since Tuesday.

On 4 December the State ceased offering all new male asylum seekers accommodation, citing a “severe shortage”.

Those without accommodation are directed to homeless day services, where they can access food, laundry, hygiene facilities and from some service tents.

Unaccommodated asylum seekers are also entitled to an increased weekly allowance of €113.80.

Last month’s multi-agency operations to clear tents sheltering unaccommodated International Protection Applicants from around Mount Street and the Grand Canal saw most of those moved offered accommodation by the International Protection Accommodation Service.