Ireland’s immigration processing system needs to be “ramped up urgently” to deal with asylum applications at speed, according to an independent TD.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, Michael McNamara said it would help the Government, who are under “huge pressure,” to prevent more build-ups of asylum seeker encampments in Dublin city centre.

It follows a multi-agency operation to remove over 100 tents from Grand Canal that began around 6.30am this morning.

The encampment was deemed “unsanitary” by Government and the asylum seekers were moved to IPAS accommodation in Crooksling and the former Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum.

Deputy McNamara said it calls for an urgent need to speed up the processing times of asylum applications.

“At the end of last month there were 21,500 people waiting on a first-instance decision,” he said.

“They all then have a right to appeal if they’re unsuccessful and can make an application to remain if that is unsuccessful.

“At the end of last year, more people were waiting on [an asylum application] decision than the number of decisions made throughout the year.

“While they are being processed, they have a right to be accommodated here, and providing that accommodation is putting huge pressure on the Government.”

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

Deputy McNamara said resources should be allocated to expedite the application process.

“What we need to is put equal resources into processing people, as we do with accommodating them, so that we’re taking down processing times,” he said.

“Yes, the Government has brought down processing times - but to nowhere near the EU average.

“What we need is a system that is robust, but also fair.”

'Unsafe situation'

Fianna Fáil Senator Barry Ward said the Government reacted to the Grand Canal situation effectively and with speed.

“It was a multi-agency response that was coordinated from the Taoiseach’s office,” he said.

“It was an important response because we needed to deal with this situation; we can’t have an unsanitary and unsafe situation with people living on the side of the street.

“The Government is acting with commendable speed to deal with these situations as they arise.”

The Grand Canal tents operation. Image: Stephanie Rohan/Newstalk

Deputy Ward said immigration processing times are not below the EU average.

“We have reduced it from four years, which was long relative to other EU countries, to six months or less now and we’re hoping to bring that down to 90 days,” he said.

“The reality is Minister McEntee has trebled the number of people working in the International Protection Office and the number of applications being processed is up to 14,000 now, compared to about 4,000 this time last year.”

Over 7,000 asylum seekers arrived in Ireland in the first four months of 2024.

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Main image: Tents pitched on Grand Canal earlier this week. Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie