‘Ugly barriers along Grand Canal limiting the public’s ability to enjoy the summer’

The “ugly barriers” along the Grand Canal should be removed as they are “seriously limiting the public’s ability to enjoy the summer”, according to one Dublin TD.

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon made the comments after it emerged the temporary barriers are expected to be in place until October.

“For more than six weeks now, one of the city’s most cherished public amenities has been blighted by unsightly barriers, erected in response to the immigration accommodation crisis,” he said.

“It has now emerged that these barriers will remain in place through the summer, seriously limiting the public’s ability to enjoy the canal.

“This is continuing to impact the public’s enjoyment of the amenity and is affecting trade for local businesses along the canal at the height of the summer.

“I am calling on Waterways Ireland to provide full clarity as to what exactly is being proposed and for the immediate removal of the temporary barriers along the canal.

“According reports, Waterways Ireland plans to redesign the canal area to prevent vulnerable homeless people erecting tents.

“It’s difficult to see how this can be done without using hostile architecture, like spikes, and permanently destroying one of Dublin’s best loved amenities.

“Waterways Ireland should be concentrating on enhancing and promoting the canal – not preventing homeless people from camping. It is an outrage that these plans are being made behind closed doors with zero public engagement,” he added.

Last month, groups of International Protection applicants re-pitched their tents along the Grand Canal within hours of being moved from a site on Mount Street.

Barricades were subsequently put up along the canal to prevent new tents from being pitched.

Mr Gannon believes maintaining these barriers along the canal “amounts to prolonged and deliberate State-sponsored vandalism”.

“Instead of having an International Protection system that is fit for purpose, the sticking plaster solution to the crisis has been to erect ugly barriers along the banks of the canal – one of the capital’s most popular walking routes,” he said.

“Vulnerable asylum seekers had been forced to pitch their tents along the banks of the Grand Canal after being moved on from streets near the International Protection Office on Mount Street, where they had been sleeping rough.

“This was a direct result of the Government’s failure to comply with its legal obligations to provide accommodation to those seeking asylum in the State.”

The Irish Independent has contacted Waterways Ireland and Dublin City Council for comment.

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