The Government's being told to 'get a grip' on the issue of housing for asylum seekers. 

It comes as asylum seekers at Crooksling and CityWest in Dublin are being told to prepare to move to an unknown location - in a bid to free up space for asylum seekers currently camping along the banks of the city's Grand Canal. 

An offer has also been posted at the IPAS offices on Mount Street - indicating an extra daily allowance for asylum seekers who refuse to take tents and find private accommodation instead. 

Labour Justice spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin described the situation as “completely shambolic”. 

“It’s absolutely enraging for people,” he said. 

“People are aghast at the inability of Government to put together any sort of a plan; there doesn’t seem to be any sort of discussion or communication. 

“The Department of Integration seems to be completely firefighting all the time. 

“Somebody has to take a grip of this and we’ve been saying this for over a year.” 

Tents line the Grand Canal. Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie

In recent days, the number of tents pitched along the canal by asylum seekers has grown significantly. 

Deputy Ó Ríordáin said asylum seekers deserve more certainty than being moved around from place to place. 

“We’ve gone from moving tents in Mount Street around Patrick’s weekend to moving them again last week,” he said. 

“Now we have another tented village that’s sprung up and it appears now that there’s no joined up thinking at all. 

“People are being asked to leave Crooksling; they’re being told if they don’t take a tent and go into the private housing market they’ll get a payment.” 

The number of people applying for international protection orders in the first four months of this year is 95% higher than in 2023.

Main image: Asylum seekers in tents along the Grand Canal in Dublin. Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie