New fencing along Grand Canal preventing asylum seekers from pitching tents “adds to the hostility of the place,” according to a local councillor.

They were erected by Waterways Ireland, following a number of ‘Tent City’ situations, and are expected to be in place throughout the summer until a permanent solution is found.

It’s also become a cost burden, as Waterways Ireland confirmed to Newstalk that they have spent €90,000 in four operations to remove tents from the canal and around €25,000 on erecting fences in the last six weeks.

On The Hard Shoulder today, Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn said the Grand Canal was a “national monument”.

“It’s heritage and it shouldn’t be treated this way,” he said.

“When they removed individuals from Mount Street, we were told this would not happen again, it was unlawful and the Gardaí would be deployed to remove those individuals.

“Where’s the human touch here? These are human beings in tents who are looking for asylum, looking for sanctuary, and despite the fact them being illegal, this is no way to treat these individuals.

“It’s also no way to treat this hugely important amenity.”

'Steel fortress'

Cllr Flynn said the new fences “don’t make a blind bit of difference” in preventing tent build-ups.

“As a matter of fact, they add to the hostility of the place and I would call on Waterways Ireland not to go down this particular road,” he said.

“What if they go to the next part of the canal? What if the park their tents in St Stephen’s Green or on Grafton Street? We can’t turn Grafton Street into a steel fortress.

“We do not need a situation where we have hostile architecture, and the place is turned into something like the Gaza Strip.”

Dublin City Council workers performing a clean-up operation after asylum seeker tents were removed from the banks of the Grand Canal, 30-5-24. Image: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Kevin Byrne from the South Georgian Core Residents Association said the current situation is “undesirable” for locals.

“It's a very important amenity for visitors and locals alike and losing it for the summer is a big loss, he said.

“I've certainly been struck at how iconic a space it is for a lot of people.

“There's a lot of love for the Grand Canal from people across the country and it has a place in our national literature and song.”

Waterways Ireland

He said locals will soon meet with Waterways Ireland to discuss the issue.

“There's been a lot of nervousness about changing the historic character of the canal bank,” said Mr Byrne.

“So, first of all, we want to see what they're proposing and see what type of impact it would have on things.

“I'm sure there are minor things that could be done that wouldn't disrupt the historic canal bank, but major interventions are something that we're certainly seeing a lot of resistance to the idea of.”

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Main image: The area where migrants had been camping on Grand Canal is now blocked with barricades. Image: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie