Dozens of asylum seekers in Dublin have been left “in limbo” following the decision to clear ‘Tent City’. 

Yesterday, officials arrived at Mount Street and told the hundreds of men sleeping there in tents they were being moved on.

Most were allocated accommodation at Citywest Hotel or in Crooksling - but there was not space for everyone.

When Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry Whyte returned to Mount Street he found there were close to 100 asylum seekers without a roof over their heads.

“They’ve been told that there’s no accommodation available for them,” Barry told The Hard Shoulder. 

“Some of them have been queuing since 9 this morning when the office opens.

“I suppose they were here to find out if there would be accommodation for them.”

Mount Street was power hosed following the removal of tents from around International Protection Office 01/05/24 Photo: Stephanie Rohan

Some of the asylum seekers had only just arrived and had been sent to the International Protection Office on Mount Street to lodge an application for asylum.

Upon arrival, they had been handed letters informing them there was no accommodation available and they would be emailed if the situation changes.

“They’ve been told they can’t sleep on Mount Street, so they’re left in limbo now with nowhere to stay,” Barry said.

“They have been given the details of homeless services - such as Tiglin, Merchant’s Quay and Mendicity.

“Gardaí have told them to disperse from the office once it closes and not to stay there.”

Homeless charities have told Newstalk they are “overwhelmed” with demand and feel the Government is “just passing the problem on to them now”.

“There’s going to be another tented village somewhere else or there’s going to be lots of sleeping bags on another street,” Barry predicted.

In 2023, 13,000 people lodged international protection applications in Ireland.

Main image: Tents being removed from outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street in Dublin,1-5-24. Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie