Try to find government land for migrant housing

State-owned sites previously excluded from asylum reception are to be reassessed as the government struggles to cope with record numbers of people arriving here.

Defense forces and HSE sites are believed to be among the sites set to be re-examined after the government admitted further tent camps could emerge in parts of Dublin city center as the state is currently unable to provide accommodation for all asylum seekers who arrive here.

It comes as more than 160 migrants were moved from a makeshift encampment on Dublin’s Grand Canal early yesterday in a multi-agency operation.

What has been described as an “elaborate maze” of barriers has now been erected to prevent any more tents being set up.

“It’s almost a dystopian scene when you go there. You see the use of construction fencing covering every inch, it almost looks like some kind of elaborate maze that has been built there,” said Stephen Roche of Social Rights Ireland.

An 'elaborate maze' of barriers has been erected at the Grand Canal to prevent more tents being set up. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

“The question is: will this now gradually creep through the city?” he said on RTÉ.

People are still arriving in need of accommodation. The government has in fact not changed its policy so that people who apply and apply for international protection are not provided with housing.

Labor leader Ivana Bacik also hit out at the government’s “short-term thinking”, adding that it is “impossible to fence off every public space in the city”.

Record numbers of asylum seekers arrived in Ireland last week, with more than 600 new arrivals seeking protection. It is understood the numbers are similar this week, with around 130 people arriving each day.

The government pledged earlier this year to build six large state-run reception centers to house asylum seekers, but is now trying to identify state-owned facilities or sites that can be quickly put to use for tent accommodation.

A senior government source said: “A good site will help us, rather than a perfect site.”

Despite the large numbers of asylum seekers arriving, Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman said he is not considering using university campus accommodation during the summer months. Officials claim this will only “exacerbate” the problem when students return in the fall.

Roderic O'Gorman said he is not considering using university campus accommodation for asylum seekers during the summer months. Photo: Damien Storan/PA

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education confirmed that “no formal request” had been made to universities to assist in providing accommodation.

Although armed forces sites are being considered, it is unlikely that active military sites will be used due to health and safety concerns.

“Government land is the immediate priority as it is the easiest to set up, but even within that there are varying degrees depending on the location and the buildings on it,” said a senior source.

Taoiseach Simon Harris yesterday insisted the days of long-term encampments were “over”, but Tánaiste Micheál Martin could not promise new tent villages would not spring up in the coming days or weeks. Both leaders emphasized that any camps that do appear will be dismantled.

Within hours of the Grand Canal camp being dismantled, newly erected tents were seen near Herbert Park in south Dublin, as well as along Custom House Quay, Samuel Beckett Bridge and Clontarf Park.

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