Section of Dublin’s Grand Canal steel fences removed

A section of fencing has been removed from Dublin’s Grand Canal, Waterways Ireland has confirmed.

The fencing was erected after a multi-agency operation was conducted at the canal site in Dublin to remove a number of tents where people who were seeking international protection, and who had not been offered State accommodation, were residing.

The cost of the fencing was estimated to run at €30,000 per week.

In a statement, Waterways Ireland confirmed that a "section of temporary fencing" was removed, "as a further step to fully reopen the canal amenity".

Earlier this month, Waterways Ireland said it had "introduced enhanced monitoring of the area, whereby two security personnel will augment Waterways Ireland staff by patrolling the area on a 24-hour basis".

"Erecting temporary barriers along the canal was not something that Waterways Ireland had ever envisioned doing," it said in a statement.

"It was done as a mitigation measure, primarily for reasons of health and safety, and public health, following large-scale illegal encampments on the canal banks," it added.

The barriers were the scene of protests calling for the removal of the barriers and an end to the eviction of homeless people from the area in July, seeing protesters tear the fencing down.

There are currently 2,746 people seeking international protection and who do not have accommodation in Ireland.