Dublin asylum seekers moved from Grand Canal tents

Asylum seekers who were living in tents along the Grand Canal in Dublin have been moved to other accommodation.

There were more than 100 tents pitched by the side of the canal.

Barriers were erected around the encampment and several coaches lined up along the nearby Mount Street on Thursday morning, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

People watched as diggers were used to remove the tents.

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.

Coaches arrive to transport asylum seekers

'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.

There were more than 100 tents pitched by the side of the canal

The men who were living in the tents queued for five buses parked along the north side of the canal on Thursday morning, according to RTÉ.

The first bus left the area at around 07:00 BST, with the rest leaving shortly after.

The tents have now been removed.

It is understood that the asylum seekers have been taken to Citywest and Crooksling tented accommodation in County Dublin.

Asylum seekers relocated from Mount Street last week were also taken to these sites.

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 the asylum seekers living in the Mount Street camp were moved.

Barriers have been erected along the encampment

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.

Irish government ministers collectively approved the plan brought to Cabinet by Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

She previously claimed more than 80% of recent asylum claims were from people who arrived in the state by crossing the border with Northern Ireland.

But the British government has said it will decide who it accepts into the UK.

The Irish government has recently expressed concern that the UK's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is encouraging more refugees to come to the Republic of Ireland.

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.