Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has denied moving asylum seekers from Mount Street to Crooksling was an “irresponsible ploy by the Government”. 

Speaking from Washington on St Patrick’s weekend, the Taoiseach defended the decision to move hundreds of asylum seekers from outside the International Protection Office (IPO) to State-owned land in west Dublin. 

“There were no showers, no toilets on Mount Street,” he said. 

“The alternative solution was to move them for health and safety reasons from a place where there were no facilities to a place where there was. 

“Being provided with accommodation where there is running water, where there are showers, where there are toilets is better than living on the streets.” 

Asylum seekers in Crooksling

The homeless asylum seekers on Mount Street were bussed to the site of a nursing home in Crooksling yesterday morning but were not informed ahead of time where they were going. 

When they arrived at the site, many were not happy with the location or that they were told to set up tents on the land. 

According to Social Rights Ireland (SRI), who had been volunteering on Mount Street, “No food was offered to the men, nor were they informed about any other services other than use of the bathroom and shower facilities at the nursing home”. 

“They were not informed how long this arrangement would last and whether there are plans to move them to secure indoor accommodation.” 

SRI called the decision “a cynical and profoundly irresponsible ploy by the Government to remove the embarrassing spectacle of a refugee encampment from the centre of the city on St Patrick’s weekend”. 

Several asylum seekers chose to walk back to city centre on foot, a 20km distance from Crooksling. 

Varadkar defends move

Crooksling was also the site of a fire in early February and had previously been the focus of protests after rumours spread that the former nursing home was due to be used for accommodating asylum seekers. 

When asked why the Government chose to move the asylum seekers there this weekend, Mr Varadkar the site “has much better conditions than people would have experienced on Mount Street”. 

“The reason why it was chosen is because it is State-owned, and it was available, and there was running water, showers, and toilets.” 

The Department of Integration has said people are entitled to leave State-provided accommodation, but advised against returning to Mount Street after the tents were removed.