The principal of St Aidan's Community School in Tallaght has said that many children were too afraid to come to school today, following disorder in Citywest overnight.
Kevin Shortall said there are five secondary and ten primary schools near Citywest and pupils who live in the accommodation centre attend all of them.
"A lot of those children went home early yesterday evening because there were warnings about imminent danger," Mr Shortall told RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, adding that many of them have not returned to school today.
"Some were moved out last night for safety concerns. Others came in and went home again.
"It's a terrible situation, a very, very worrying situation, especially for the schools and the families."
Trouble broke out outside an accommodation centre for International Protection applicants last night during a protest attended by around 2,000 people.
The protest began after a man appeared in court charged with the sexual assault of a girl two days ago.
Mr Shortall said Citywest is a community of families and it is not just those people who live in the accommodation centre that are scared.
"It's really not nice locking people in their bedrooms while fire bombs and fireworks go off and gardaí are attacked and vans are set on fire."
Mr Shortall said the message delivered by some protesters last night is far from the reality of the community.
"No matter where you are from you deserve respect and love and education...and that's an Irish thing and I'm ashamed of anyone who made a child feel unsafe and scared to go to school."
Mr Shortall added: "We're going to keep smiling and we're going to keep telling people that, no matter where they come from, whether you're here from Tallaght or whether you're from the other side of the world, that you're a human being with a beating heart, and you're welcome here."
There are 377 families with children living at the Citywest Hotel.
Families amount to 1,037 of the total number of people out of 1,200 accommodated in the hotel facility.
Around 75 of the 1,200 are International Protection Applicants.
The remainder are Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.
There is also a Transit Hub on the campus for those entering international protection which is currently accommodating 460 adults.
Separately, some 800 people applying for international protection are accommodated in an IPAS centre adjacent to the Citywest Hotel and State-owned site in a different centre.
This centre, according to the Department of Justice, comprises mixed groups of families and single people, including just over 300 children.
Since November 2024, Citywest is where families have their IP applications processed.
While many do not stay there, it is their first destination on arrival.
Citywest 'a place people call home' - IRC
The Irish Refugee Council said that is "very concerned about the safety and welfare of people seeking International Protection" based in Citywest and across the country.
"This comes against the backdrop of increasing hate and violence directed towards people seeking safety in recent years," the council's Chief Executive Nick Henderson said.
"There is considerable and growing fear in this community and they and the services that support them must be protected.
"The Citywest complex is a place people call home while their application for protection or temporary protection is considered, including families and children," Mr Henderson added.
He urged "communities to come together...to reject division and ensure that a small group of extremists does not tear us apart" and called on "all politicians to show leadership and refrain from scoring political points".
Mr Henderson said that "everyone deserves safety and protection".
Watch: Cleanup operation in aftermath of Citywest disorder
Charity criticises use of horses during protests
Animal welfare charity My Lovely Horse said it was deeply saddened and distressed by video footage on social media showing horses being driven into the protest.
The charity said some horses were forced to pull sulkys through crowds with some pushed into dangerous and distressing conditions.
It said the animals were used as "tools of intimidation and, effectively, as weapons".
My Lovely Horse co-founder Martina Kenny said individuals involved are terrifying communities and "placing both people and animals at serious risk".
"Riding horses through public spaces, onto roads, into shops and across green areas is not culture it is cruelty and lawlessness," she said.
Ms Kenny called for stronger enforcement of existing legislation.
"By doing nothing, we are enabling a pattern of abuse, neglect, and public danger that is escalating before our eyes," she said.
Additional reporting Ailbhe Conneely
