Tents being provided to homeless asylum seekers are being paid for by the Government, says Roderic O'Gorman.
The Minister for Integration has confirmed they are supporting a number of homeless charities to supply tents, washing facilities and food to international protection applicants who cannot be provided with State accommodation.
Hundreds of tents were destroyed when two encampments were removed from Mount Street and the Grand Canal in the capital in multi agency operations in the past week.
Fences have now been erected around the stretch of the Grand Canal where the tents had been pitched.
Meanwhile, there are 33 tents pitched along the Grand Canal this morning.
Minister Roderic O’Gorman admitted this morning that his Department is funding homeless charities who are handing out tents to homeless asylum seekers.
"Where people aren't accommodated, they engage with a number of NGOs that our department support in terms of providing services to international protection applicants who haven't been accommodated.
"Those are a range of services. They may be access to meals, access to showers during the day, and a number of those NGOs may provide tents or sleeping bags. Our department funds NGOs."
Taoiseach Simon Harris said that neither he, nor the Government, would accept tented encampments in the city.
