Hundreds of asylum seekers had already been temporarily camped outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street for months until they were moved by officials – BBC News.
Mr Varadkar, speaking from Washington, where he is participating in St Patrick’s Day celebrations, informed the Irish broadcaster that the alternative site had sanitary facilities and showers, while the original site did not. She told RTÉ News the tents had been moved for “health and safety reasons.”
Conditions are being criticised as RTÉ reports that rubbish and damaged tents were left in the town centre, where there is no sewage system.
The alternative tented accommodation is at Crooksling in south-west County Dublin. In a statement, the Department of Integration said that those who accepted the offer would be provided with food, personal toiletries, a toilet and a shower.
The department said it engaged with Dublin City Council and the area where the tents had been was being cleaned and cleared.
“The supply of available accommodation is severely diminished,” a spokesman said. “What accommodation can be opened at this point is primarily being utilised for families in order to avoid women and children becoming homeless,” he added.
Since January, some 2,400 accommodation beds have been made available for those seeking housing. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik says she is pleased that housing has now been provided.
“It should never have got so bad here – huge credit to all the local volunteers who gave such immense support and help to all the people here this week,” she said.
