The bill for fencing, clean-up and patrols for dealing with asylum seeker encampments along the Grand Canal reached almost €800,000 last year.
Waterways Ireland confirmed they had run up bills totalling €790,769 in bills in 2024, which included €566,718 in fencing costs.
Asylum applicants repeatedly set up camp along the canal in Dublin after being moved on from a controversial ‘tented village’ near the Mount Street office which deals with international protection applications.
Waterways Ireland said a further €95,170 had been spent on tent removal operations while €128,881 was paid for patrols.
These patrols began in September to try and avoid new encampments being set up along the banks of the canal after an earlier removal operation.
Tents along the waterway were a source of bitter controversy last year with asylum applicants regularly subject to vile abuse from far-right agitators.
The erection of long stretches of fencing also proved divisive with people saying it closed off access to the canal for pedestrians and tourists.
Waterways Ireland said they had been left in a difficult situation where their “over-riding concern” was always the health and safety of those camping.
A spokesperson said: “The canal is a wonderful amenity for responsible recreational use – it is not a safe place to sleep.”