Increase in number of tents along Grand Canal in Dublin

There are now 48 tents along a section of the Grand Canal in Dublin sheltering unaccommodated asylum seekers, an increase from last Thursday when there were 26.

The tents are along the north side of the canal between Baggot Street and Leeson Street.

The first tents were pitched on this stretch of the canal on Thursday evening after others were removed along a neighbouring part of the canal when people were taken to State provided accommodation sites and barriers were erected.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that "absolutely no one in Government" is saying that the issue is going to go away.

"We do still have a very very very challenging situation when it comes to accommodation, we need to be very honest in relation to this," Mr Harris said on his way into Cabinet this morning.

"Ireland will meet its obligations in relation to providing shelter. That is likely, in the short term, to continue to be tented accommodation with access to sanitation and that's what I'm working to do."

"I can assure you that's a priority for me this week," Mr Harris said.

There are currently over 1,700 asylum seekers awaiting an offer of accommodation by the State.