Tent clearance underway along Grand Canal in Dublin

Another multi-agency operation to clear the banks of the Grand Canal of homeless asylum seekers is underway in Dublin.

Gardaí, staff from Waterways Ireland, the HSE and medics from the Safetynet charity are onsite on Tuesday where more than 100 tents had appeared in recent weeks.

The multi-agency operation to remove the tents between McCartney Bridge and Leeson Street Bridge along the Grand Canal got underway at around 9am on Tuesday morning.

The operation is the third co-ordinated clearance after tents were previously removed from another area of the canal and from around the International Protection Office in the past few weeks.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin previously said Thornton Hall is being considered as a site to put tents for asylum seekers.

Mr Martin has questioned the wisdom of tents being given to international protection applicants.

Mr Martin said the Government would have to consult with NGOs in relation to the giving out of tents.

There are currently 1,780 male international protection applicants who have not received an offer of State-provided accommodation, amid an increasing number of arrivals.