In the wake of a recent removal of a homeless asylum seekers’ camp from Dublin’s Grand Canal, a fresh encampment has sprouted in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. This new vagrant colony, comprised of nine tents, is stationed at the junction of Clyde and Wellington Roads on a grassy strip next to a residential complex.
While there were no inhabitants present on Friday morning, signs of habitation were apparent, with items such as sleeping bags, flip-flops, and water bottles spotted. The tents, located beneath trees at the intersection of two residential streets, are directly on the roadside, offering no barrier from pedestrians and have no access to sanitation facilities.
The encampment is situated directly across from St Conleth’s College, a private coed primary and secondary institution, and a short distance from the old St Mary’s nursing home on Pembroke Road. This facility, which faced objection from locals earlier this year when proposed to house asylum-seeking families, is now home to approximately 200 individuals.
Subsequent to Thursday’s multi-agency operation to clear tents, accommodation was offered to 109 homeless asylum seekers. The operation, which involved staff from Waterways Ireland, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), the Health Service Executive (HSE), Dublin City Council, and the police, warned the homeless men living in tents on Wilton Terrace that they were illegally situated and would face prosecution if they returned. After the camps were removed, the site was barricaded against future encampments.
Simon Harris, the Taoiseach, praised the Thursday clearance, thanking the multiple state agencies involved and emphasising the need for a unified approach to address immigration issues.
The efforts made at the canal this morning exemplify that, however, providing shelter and housing only forms one part of migration policy.
Equally crucial is our determination to maintain a system governed by rules, where said rules are upheld and our country is always aligned with European standards on matters such as welfare. The Irish are a compassionate people, imbued with practicality. The government should always reflect these two qualities.