Dublin asylum seekers moved from Grand Canal tents
An operation is under way to remove more than 100 tents pitched by asylum seekers along the Grand Canal in Dublin, the Irish government has said.
Asylum seekers will be relocated to other accommodation.
Barriers have been erected around the canal encampment and several coaches were lined up along the nearby Mount Street this morning, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
It comes after Irish authorities removed asylum seekers and tents from outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street last week.
A statement from the Irish government said the operation at the canal is a joint effort by the departments of Integration and Justice, An Garda Síochána (police), Dublin City Council, Health Service Executive and Waterways Ireland.
'Safe movement'
The government said it will ensure the "safe movement" of people from the tents to accommodation.
It added the accommodation has toilets and showers, health services, indoor areas where food is provided, facilities to charge phones and personal devices, transport to and from Dublin City Centre access and 24-hour security.
The number of tents on both sides of the Grand Canal has been rising steadily since they were first set up between Mount Street Bridge and Huband Bridge on Friday evening.
The tents appeared along the canal after hundreds of asylum seekers living in the separate makeshift campsite on Mount Street were moved to two new accommodation sites earlier last week.
The Irish government said all asylum seekers were moved to Citywest and Crooksling tented accommodation in County Dublin.
A total of 186 applicants were taken to Citywest and a further 99 were accommodated at Crooksling.
The Irish government has recently expressed concern about the number of asylum seekers coming from the UK to the Republic of Ireland.
Last week, a plan to draft new Irish legislation which would re-designate the UK as a "safe country" to which asylum seekers can be returned was approved.
However, figures released on Wednesday show that there are 1,764 International Protection Applicants without State-provided shelter.
That is 54 more people than Tuesday, according to the Department of Integration.
