The alternative accommodation provided to asylum seekers was not fit for “animals”, according to one man who walked back to Dublin on foot. 

The Department of Integration says roughly 130 asylum seekers are currently being accommodated at the site in Crooksling in south-west Dublin. 

The asylum seekers' tents were cleared from outside the IPO office in Mount Street at the weekend, although some have returned to the city centre on foot. 

One asylum seeker who returned to the city said the premise in Crooksling was not fit for “animals”. 

“On our first impression, we saw how miserable the situation was,” he said. 

“It is not available to animals – we have nothing there. 

“There is nothing there ready to use... we decided to go back to Dublin at once.” 

Conditions in Crooksling

According to Social Rights Ireland (SRI), who had been volunteering on Mount Street, “no food was offered to the men [at Crooksling], nor were they informed about any other services other than use of the bathroom and shower facilities at the nursing home”.  

“They were not informed how long this arrangement would last and whether there are plans to move them to secure indoor accommodation.” 

Crooksling was also the site of a fire in early February and had previously been the focus of protests after rumours spread that the former nursing home was due to be used for accommodating asylum seekers.  

When asked why the Government chose to move the asylum seekers there this weekend, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar the site “has much better conditions than people would have experienced on Mount Street”.  

“The reason why it was chosen is because it is State-owned, and it was available, and there was running water, showers, and toilets.” 

The Department of Integration has said people are entitled to leave State-provided accommodation, but advised against returning to Mount Street after the tents were removed.