Press release
Questions and Answers on Mount Street
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
What happened at Mount Street on 1st May 2024?
A joint operation between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY); the Department of Justice; An Garda Síochána; Dublin City Council (DCC); the Office of Public Works (OPW); and the HSE got underway early on the morning of 1st May 2024 on Mount Street, Dublin.
The purpose of the operation was to ensure the safe movement of people seeking international protection from the tents on Mount Street to International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS)-designated accommodation. Those in the encampment seeking international protection were safely moved to Citywest and to Crooksling tented accommodation in County Dublin. The encampment at Mount Street has been dismantled and the streets have been cleaned by Dublin City Council.
Were International Protection applicants informed of what was happening prior to the operation?
For operational reasons, international protection applicants were not given specific advance notice of the planned move.
How were International Protection applicants informed of the operation? If verbally or in writing, was this translated?
IPAS staff approached all applicants at the Mount Street site explaining what was going to happen and handed out a leaflet with all the necessary information. This leaflet was translated with IPAS staff having translation services available when needed.
Were there interpreter services available to explain what was happening?
DCEDIY had interpreters available by phone and also had translated information sheets available on site at Mount Street.
What was the role of An Garda Síochána as part of the operation?
An Garda Síochána supported the joint operation between DCEDIY, DCC, the OPW and HSE. This operation ensured that people sleeping in tents at Mount Street were safely moved to IPAS-designated accommodation.
Gardaí were on site to manage the road closure, assist with the coordination of the movement of people, and to maintain public safety during the operation.
What kind of accommodation and facilities are available at Crooksling?
The Crooksling site has 10 to 12 person robust, weather-proof tents. It has toilets and showers; health services; indoor areas where food is provided; facilities to charge phones and personal devices; access to transport to and from Dublin City Centre; and 24-hour onsite security.
How many people were moved from Mount Street on May 1st? How many applicants were brought to Crooksling? How many applicants were brought to Citywest?
Just under 290 single male applicants were offered accommodation at IPAS sites in Crooksling and Citywest on 1st May 2024; 187 applicants were moved in order to avail of accommodation at Citywest and a further 100 were moved in order to avail of accommodation at Crooksling. These are the most up to date figures available to us and will be confirmed in coming days as centre registers are submitted.
Were International Protection applicants brought to any other sites other than Crooksling or Citywest to avail of accommodation?
No other locations were used during the move.
Did any of the applicants refuse to board the bus services provided? And if so, where will they go?
The offer of accommodation in IPAS centres is voluntary and some applicants are understood to have not taken up a place at their assigned centre. IPAS will continue to engage with these applicants and efforts will be made to ensure these applicants do not continue to reside at the Mount Street location.
What are the legal implications for those who chose not to relocate to Crooksling or Citywest?
While the State has always taken a sympathetic approach towards International Protection applicants, it is nevertheless a criminal offence, in principle, for a person to pitch a tent on public land, or on private land without consent. Depending on the circumstances, for example, the person may be moved on, requested to remove their tent or the tent may be seized if there is a refusal to remove the tent. Each case would be considered on their own set of facts in terms of the legal implications arising.
Can International Protection Applicants be prosecuted if they did not take up the offer of IPAS accommodation in Crooksling or Citywest?
No. However, it is a criminal offence, in principle, for a person to pitch a tent on public land, or on private land without consent. Depending on the circumstances, for example, the person may be moved on, requested to remove their tent or the tent may be seized if there is a refusal to remove the tent. Each case would be considered on their own set of facts on the question of a prosecution.
Are there more beds available for others arriving in the coming days at both locations?
Maintaining sufficient IPAS accommodation, in particular for single male applicants, continues to represent a significant challenge for the Government. Substantial efforts are being made to preserve the necessary capacity to accommodate arriving families, including those with children. As sufficient beds become available, further offers will be made to single male applicants.
How long will the applicants be in Crooksling and Citywest?
Applicants will be transferred from these sites when appropriate accommodation is identified within the IPAS accommodation portfolio. Given the need to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for families, including those with children, it is not possible to give timelines.
Are there supports available to those based in Crooksling?
While in Crooksling accommodation, residents will receive the same supports as at other IPAS locations. This includes access to medical care via the HSE social inclusion outreach teams and medical card provision; IPAS customer services team clinics; onsite support from the provider’s staff; and psycho-social and integration support from NGO partners.
What are the transport arrangements in Crooksling?
Residents in Crooksling have access to a regular Dublin bus service to the city centre. Residents have also been supported by NGOs and the accommodation provider with additional transport needs.
Are those persons in Crooksling now considered accommodated (and will they have their Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA) be reduced)?
Yes, these sites are IPAS accommodation centres similar to other facilities operated by IPAS nationally. The residents will receive the same support as residents in other IPAS locations, including the non-enhanced rate of DEA.
Will those seeking International Protection be able to camp at Mount Street again?
DCC and the OPW have secured the area of Mount Street where the tents were placed, with street furniture and traffic management measures in place to prevent the placement of tents.
As the Taoiseach indicated in the Dáil on Tuesday, we don't envisage an encampment building up on Mount Street again.
This underlines how important it is that the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy is rolled out successfully so that sufficient accommodation is provided, and sleeping outside the International Protection Office isn't necessary.
What happens with any International Protection Applicants who arrive at Mount Street in terms of accommodating them now?
The situation in relation to accommodation remains extremely challenging, and the Department is not in a position to offer accommodation to all male applicants arriving.
A triage process is in place for those who are particularly vulnerable, and an enhanced Daily Expense Allowance is available to those who are awaiting an offer of accommodation.
Every effort will continue to be made across Government to source additional accommodation for those who are arriving, with retrospective offers of accommodation made where possible.
Can people other than those availing of the accommodation in Crooksling and Citywest access the sites?
IPAS sites are not open to the public given the need for privacy for residents, but sites – including Crooksling and CityWest – are regularly visited by various stakeholders including NGOs, HSE and IPAS personnel. IPAS house rules do not allow for overnight guests.
Can you please give details on transport used to move those from Mount Street.
5 buses and 19 taxis were used to move applicants from Mount Street to Crooksling and Citywest.
How were the HSE involved during the operation?
A HSE senior officer was involved in the planning of a heath needs response. Public Health advice was provided, and pathways of care were organised in the case that individuals might need medical attention. Safetynet service is contracted by the Dublin and Midlands region.
Were there other health services involved?
The Safetynet mobile health unit with a GP and nurse were present at Mount Street at the invitation of the HSE to provide health care if required.
Did any of those sleeping in the tents on Mount Street require medical assistance?
Safetynet saw approximately 7 people on May 1st. Most were already linked in with health services and there were no acute health concerns. Safetynet's health assessment and screening team have increased presence at the identified transfer locations in order to offer health assessment to anyone who wishes to avail of it.
Are there any restrictions around photographing or identifying International Protection applicants?
It is important to note that International Protection applicants have a statutory right to anonymity. Under Section 26(2) of the International Protection Act 2015, “A person shall not, without the consent of the applicant, publish in a written publication available to the public or broadcast, or cause to be so published or broadcast, information likely to lead members of the public to identify a person as an applicant.”
Will there be a return to vulnerability assessments?
IPAS and the HSE will continue to operate the vulnerability triage at the International Protection Office (IPO) for all persons who cannot be accommodated. The triage aims to identify persons with very high level needs and to prioritise them for accommodation.
The vulnerability assessment programme was formally suspended in March 2024 and the decision was communicated along with a suite of information to all of those queued for assessment, IPAS accommodation managers, NGO partners, all relevant stakeholders and DCEDIY’s website at Suspension of VA Programme. The programme was suspended as resources were required to deliver the vulnerability triage programme.
A tender has been published for delivery of vulnerability assessments to all persons seeking international protection in Ireland as of the 19th of April 2024, with a closing date of 23rd May 2024.
How much has Dublin City Council spent on the clean-up operation on Mount Street on May 1st?
Dublin City Council’s clean-up operation cost was approximately €50,000. This includes waste removal by contractors and provision of fencing by contractors.
ENDS.