The metal fencing has been in place along the canal since May. A spokesperson for Waterways Ireland said erecting the barriers was “not something they had ever envisioned doing”.
The barriers were erected as a “mitigation measure, primarily for reasons of health and safety, and public health, following large-scale illegal encampments on the canal banks”.
New tent encampment grows along Dublin’s Grand Canal
It was recently announced by Waterways Ireland that from September 10, 24-hour security patrols would be in place along the canal as a mitigation measure to ensure “no encampments were set up” in the area.
They said they have been monitoring the affected area to deter people from camping there, to identify public health issues, sanitary and clean-up requirements, to survey the canal and canal bank, and to prevent criminal damage to Waterways Ireland property and fencing.
“All instances of illegal encampments and criminal damage to property have been and continue to be reported to An Garda Síochána,” a spokesperson for Waterways Ireland added.
They said the 24-hour patrols have allowed them to notify gardaí of any issues in real time and to ascertain the “pattern of when and how many encampments are taking place, and to advise any arrivals of the prohibition on staying in tents by the canal”.
The patrols are a pilot programme, which will be kept under review as part of Waterways Ireland’s efforts to fully reopen the canal. More than 100 complaints have been made to Waterways Ireland about the barriers.
The complaints include notifications to Waterways Ireland of the presence of tents, requests for the removal of tents, reports on the presence of fencing, requests for the removal of fencing, reports of damage to the barriers, concerns about the loss of amenity value, and queries about the schedule for the removal and replacement of the barriers with other solutions.
Latest figures from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth show that there are 2,746 male asylum seekers “awaiting offer of accommodation”.
