ASYLUM SEEKERS who had set up camp in Dublin city centre have been moved to new accommodation, the government has revealed.
Around 200 people were moved today from the encampment in the Mount Street area of the city, close to the International Protection Office (IPO), which processes asylum applications.
The asylum seekers have been moved to two sites in Co. Dublin provided by the government’s International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).
However, further asylum seekers have reportedly arrived at the IPO building this evening.
The dismantling of the encampment was a joint operation between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council, the Office of Public Works and the HSE.
Those who had been sleeping in the tents were taken by bus to the former St Brigid’s nursing home in Crooksling and to a site at Citywest.
Following the relocation, the site was fenced off and a clean-up operation undertaken by the city council.
‘Safely moved’
The statement from the government said those taken to Crooksling would ‘receive the same supports as at other locations’.
“The purpose of the operation is to ensure the safe movement of people seeking international protection from the tents on Mount Street to International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS)-designated accommodation,” it read.
“Those seeking international protection have now been safely moved to Citywest and to Crooksling tented accommodation in County Dublin.
“The Crooksling site has robust, weather-proof tents.
“It has toilets and showers; health services; indoor areas where food is provided; facilities to charge phones and personal devices; access to transport to and from Dublin City Centre; and 24-hour onsite security.
“While in Crooksling accommodation, residents will receive the same supports as at other locations.
“This includes access to medical care via the HSE social inclusion outreach teams and medical card provision; IPAS customer services team clinics; onsite support from the provider’s staff; and psycho-social and integration support from NGO partners.
“The encampment at Mount Street has been dismantled and the streets are being cleaned by Dublin City Council.”
This evening, pictures appeared to show new asylum applicants arriving at the IPO following the earlier dismantling of the encampment.