Asylum seekers who remain in tents near the International Protection Office (IPO) have said they have been attacked multiple times while camped out. 

One Afghan asylum seeker told Newstalk he and others are often attacked by young people who steal their belongings. 

“We cannot go alone in the city,” he said. “Young people, they are the dangerous people. 

“They attack you in the night... they take your clothes, your money. 

“Why? We are human... we didn’t come [to Ireland] for something bad.” 

Around 40 tents have been erected just 400 metres from the International Protection Office, where the so-called "tent city" was dismantled on Wednesday. 

Those sleeping there have been told it's a temporary measure and they'll be provided with accommodation when it's available. 

Asylum seekers 'want a better life'

Another asylum seeker said when people in the local area, they “became very rude”, yelling obscenities at them. 

“When we came to Ireland, we had expectations, but now we are inside and it’s not safe,” he said. 

“If you’re not in a group of people, the Irish [young people] will attack you. 

“We just want to have a better life – that's why we came here. 

“It’s not easy to come to Europe and especially Ireland [but now] being here is meaningless for us.” 

Local elections

Asylum seekers are entitled to vote in the upcoming local elections provided they have a PPS number. 

The two men, however, said they are unsure how they can vote – and who they would vote for. 

“We don't know which person is good in this country,” one man said. 

“I don't know about these people... it is sad for me, but we don’t know. 

“We accept justice – who has justice? The politic, the Government people, they don’t understand justice. 

“They just put everything bad on poor people, on homeless people – why?” 

He said he wants to live the same life as Irish people in this country. 

“We are all human, all together,” he said. “We came from one ground, from one sky.” 

Figures released earlier this week said there were just over 1,600 male asylum seekers without State accommodation