This operation to remove these tents began at around 6.30am this morning, after contractors started erecting additional barriers around the site around 5am. It comes following previous multi-agency responses to remove tents which took place across the city.
Overall, 109 people have been offered accommodation this morning.
Following the removal of these tents onto a lorry, the blue tarpaulins which were covering these tents in the encampment were taken away, near the Baggot Street Bridge along the Grand Canal.
Just before 8am, five buses carrying men left, with fresh barriers erected at the canal.
Asylum seekers received a letter, telling them that if they continue to stay at the canal, they are committing a criminal offence.
In a statement released this morning, the Government have revealed that several beds have been made available in the Citywest over recent days.
This also led to offers of accommodation which were made to those who were applying for International Protection while awaiting accommodation.
The statement read: “The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with the support of a number of homeless charities, conducted outreach visits at the Grand Canal”.
“Any individual identified as eligible for International Protection accommodation at one or more of those outreach visits was offered accommodation at Citywest”.
1,939 applicants have been waiting to be offered accommodation. Hundreds of people have been offered State-provided shelter.
Speaking on this morning’s operation, Taoiseach Simon Harris said that it shows how all agencies are working together. He also added that shelter and accommodation is only one part of the migration policy.
“Irish people are compassionate, they are also full of common sense. Both elements must always be demonstrated by Government too”, Mr Harris insists.
On this issue, he also said that he wanted to show his gratitude to “many State agencies who are now working closely together on the issue of immigration”.
He also added, “I have been very clear that we cannot have a siloed approach to migration. All agencies must work together to deliver a comprehensive response”.
Elsewhere, Minister Eamon Ryan insisted that people who are looking for accommodation will be treated with respect, with many coming from “deeply fraught and traumatised situations”.
Stating that the row of tents near the canal was not safe, Mr Ryan had this to say.
“Our job is to make sure we have those alternative facilities. That’s been really challenging, because over 120,000 people came into the country in a short period. So, scaling that up – we’ll do that”.
One young man who has been offered State-provided accommodation said that he has been fleeing conflict in Somalia, adding that he has been waiting on an offer of accommodation since February.
He said that men at the camp are escaping conflict in their native countries, adding that State-provided shelter has helped, as the makeshift camp has no access to facilities.
Concerns were also expressed over "misinformation and propaganda" being spread about these men in the media and online.
