Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said she is appalled at what she says was an attack on a former nursing home building in Co Dublin.
A fire broke out at St Brigid's Nursing Home in Crooksling, near Brittas, early on Sunday.
Dublin Fire Brigade worked to contain the fire throughout the day. Parts of the building were still smouldering late on Sunday.
Control was handed over to gardaí later.
An engineer is due to conduct a formal inspection to assess the building's safety, and once the area is clear gardaí will be able to conduct a full technical examination.
A spokesperson said the results of the examination will guide their investigation.
They have appealed to anyone with information to contact gardaí in Tallaght.
In a statement, Minister McEntee said "those responsible will be brought to justice".
It is understood the building is still not safe for a full technical investigation to begin.
We've been able to scale back the response to the fire at #Crooksling Brittas
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) February 4, 2024
4️⃣ Four fire engines remain on scene along with a water tanker and senior officers
🧑🏽🚒 Firefighters will continue to damp down and extinguish hot spots pic.twitter.com/qRhcwh9YNC
The Minister said arson is a very serious crime which carries heavy prison sentences.
She said significant criminal damage had been caused in this case and "An Garda Síochána will relentlessly chase down those responsible for it in the same way as they are pursuing those involved with other recent attacks".
She encouraged anyone with any information in relation to the incident to contact gardaí.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was "very concerned" to hear about the fire, following what he called "disturbing reports of suspected criminal damage at properties around the country" in recent weeks.
In a statement, the Taoiseach said: "There is never any justification for violence, arson or vandalism in our Republic. Garda investigations are underway into the incident in Crooksling.
"Arson is a serious crime punishable by up to ten years in prison. It is deeply ironic that some of those who try to link migration with crime engage in serious criminal activity themselves."
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Gardaí said control of the scene had now been transferred from the fire services to An Garda Síochána.
A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to investigate all the circumstances of the fire.
Gardaí said a formal examination of the building would be undertaken to assess its safety. Once the scene is made safe a technical examination will be carried out.
Anyone with any information about the fire is asked to contact Gardaí at Tallaght Garda Station on 01 6666000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Property 'not yet deemed suitable'
Demonstrations were staged in the locality last week by people who believed the former St Brigid's Nursing Home was to be used to accommodate refugees.
A spokesperson for the Department of Integration said that "an assessment of this property had recently begun by DCEDIY with the agreement of the HSE".
The spokesperson added: "This process is at initial stages and the property has not yet been deemed suitable nor has been contracted by the Department."
A small group of protesters were at the scene on Sunday.
The protesters have said the group was made up of concerned locals from around the area and that they intended to stay there until they are given answers from the Department of Integration.
Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O'Connor said that the Taoiseach had said himself that there needed to be better communication around housing asylum seekers.
"As a Tallaght based public representative, I was getting queries from people saying, Do you know what's going on? And frankly, I didn't. And I and indeed all the public representatives made contact with the Department of Integration asking what the position was and you know, our queries are pending," he said.
The Mayor of South Dublin, Independent Cllr Alan Edge said he was shocked and appalled by what had happened.
"I want to thank our amazing firefighters. If indeed it is arson, they have been placed at risk by the people who've done this. And in terms of the protests, we have been aware over the past couple of weeks of a number of protests.
"I think it's important to say that these protesters don't represent the majority of people in Brittas and certainly not in the county. I've spoken to a lot of people in Brittas, who are absolutely shocked and appalled by what's happened and who wants to make it clear that these people don't represent them."
He added: "I think people are ashamed of what's happened.
"Certainly the community in Brittas who are good, decent people, and I think for people who are living in international protection, those who are seeking asylum, we have wonderful young men and women, but young men in particular in the county who are volunteering contributing to the community, and I think this will inevitably create a sense of fear," he said.
Before dismantling their protest outside the disused nursing home, a number of people said their voices had not been heard or reported on by the media, despite having been there for weeks.
They moved on after they were advised that the buildings which has now been gutted will not be suitable to house any group for some time.
Local representatives said the future of the nursing home site had been up for discussion for some time after it closed in March 2020 and they questioned why it had not been properly secured.
Fianna Fáil Councillor with South Dublin County Council Trevor Gilligan said the Minister for Integration should clarify whether or not there were plans to accommodate asylum-seekers in the facility.
He told RTÉ News that he made contact with Minister Roderic O'Gorman's office in recent weeks to seek this information, but he has not been given a direct response to this query.
Mr Gilligan said the area of Brittas is a tight-knit community and residents have been waiting for information on the issue.
He said they believe that St Brigid's Nursing Home will be used as an asylum accommodation centre and he said that it is normal that people would want to know what is happening in their locality.
He acknowledged that some demonstrations had taken place recently "with a handful of residents" going up to the area where the former nursing home is situated to see what was going on.
He said while there has been no indication of the cause of the blaze that occurred in the area, if it was an arson attack they would absolutely condemn it.
He said this is the last thing residents would want and they are just seeking information from the minister.
Govt disorganised and short-sighted, says McDonald
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Government is not handling immigration well and it has left entire sections of communities feeling "powerless as big changes happen" in their neighbourhood.
She accused the Government of being disorganised and short-sighted.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, she said she would make the immigration system more efficient if Sinn Féin were in government. "I believe that what we need is a system that is fair, efficient and enforced."
That means not leaving people in limbo for months or years, and also if an application is unsuccessful the person leaves the jurisdiction, she said.
Ms McDonald also said arson attacks are criminal acts and despicable as she condemned "ugly attitudes" from some people around asylum-seekers and vulnerable people.
She said gardaí need to establish what happened in Brittas.
She said the sensible and respectful way to proceed is to communicate with people, as she accused the Government of leaving "speculation in the air".
"We now know that such speculation is seized on by some to build up concern and some will take it to the extreme and carry out criminal actions and actually burn down buildings which is despicable."
She said consultation means "what it says on the tin" - "conversations with people living in communities".
She said it concerns her that anyone would have anti-immigrant views because large sections of Ireland's economy are built on the efforts and talent of immigrants.
The Sinn Féin leader also said there needs to be clarity for Ukrainians who live here as she said there is no facility to extend the Temporary Protection Directive.
"In the event the protections run out, I think those Ukrainians who are at work and who wish to stay and remain working here need to apply for work permits and need to know that will be the pathway forward for them."
She said she understands others who fear for their safety if they were to return will go into the standard asylum protection system.
She said too often these issues have been left to the last minute and it has been "most unhelpful and stressful for people".
Gardaí warned last month over potential for copycat incidents
Last month, gardaí expressed serious concerns about the increase in arson attacks on properties linked to housing asylum-seekers together with the potential for copycat incidents.
Three buildings in Dublin, Longford and Tipperary were set alight in January. A number of these properties were never intended for use for International Protection Applicants.
Gardaí said last month they believed the attacks were not centrally orchestrated or organised but carried out separately by individuals disgruntled at the prospect of migrants being accommodated in their localities.
Additional reporting: Karen Creed
