Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has called for urgent clarity on proposed works along the banks of the Grand Canal that could involve the use of hostile architecture like spikes to prevent homeless people from erecting tents.<\/p>\n
Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin Central, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor more than six weeks now, one of the city\u2019s most cherished public amenities has been blighted by unsightly barriers, which were erected in response to the immigration accommodation crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cVulnerable 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a direct result of the Government\u2019s failure to comply with its legal obligations to provide accommodation to those seeking asylum in the State.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead 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 \u2013 one of the capital\u2019s most popular walking routes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is continuing to impact the public\u2019s enjoyment of the amenity and is affecting trade for local businesses along the canal at the height of the summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has now emerged that these barriers will remain in place through the summer, seriously limiting the public\u2019s ability to enjoy the canal.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to news reports, Waterways Ireland plans to redesign the canal area to prevent vulnerable homeless people erecting tents. It\u2019s difficult to see how this can be done without using hostile architecture, like spikes, and permanently destroying one of Dublin\u2019s best loved amenities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWaterways 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is happening to the Grand Canal amounts to prolonged and deliberate State-sponsored vandalism.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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 banks of the canal.\u201d<\/p>\n
June 26, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has called for urgent clarity on proposed works along the banks of the Grand Canal that could involve the use of hostile architecture like spikes to prevent homeless people from erecting tents. Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin Central, said: \u201cFor more than six weeks now, one of the city\u2019s most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[495,316,528],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dublin-city-centre","category-gary-gannon","category-immigration"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n