Councillors have condemned a fire at a property in Sandyford, Dublin, which is being investigated by gardaí, but some have also criticised poor communication from Government about its intended use.
It is understood that it will be used to house 20 women seeking international protection, but this has still not been confirmed by the Department of Integration.
An investigation is under way into the fire at the property on the Sandyford Road, which broke out around 11.30pm on Sunday.
The building, which was being renovated, was unoccupied and no-one was injured.
A security guard had alerted emergency services to the fire and it is understood that security at the property has now been increased.
Last week, a video was circulated on social media that was filmed by people who entered the grounds of the property.
Those recording the video alleged that the building was due to be used to house male International Protection applicants.
After the video was circulated, local representatives who enquired about the use of the building and a neighbouring property received conflicting information about their use.
Last week, the Department of Integration informed local representatives that the buildings had been offered to house Ukrainian refugees in February of last year, but they had since been withdrawn.
At the time, the department said that it was "not considering the properties for International Protection Applicants".
However, at the same time last week, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council informed local representatives that the neighbouring property was housing 20 women since October last year, and that the property that was being refurbished would be occupied "by 20 females in the next two months."
The Department of Integration has since clarified that "20 female International Protection applicants" are currently being accommodated in one of the properties, but did not issue a statement about the property damaged in Sunday's fire.
When contacted, a spokesperson for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council said that "all queries in relation to the properties must go to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth".
'Disappointing' communication
Local Independent councillor Michael Fleming said that he was informed directly that those who were already living in and those are due to move into the properties are female International Protection applicants.
Mr Fleming said that communication was very poor and that he had to find out directly from the owner of the properties what the sites were going to be used for.
"I shouldn't have to go in and get that information and I was the one who then relayed that information to fellow councillors. It's important to be transparent, and that didn't happen and that's disappointing," he said.
Local Labour councillor Lettie McCarthy said that "residents who contacted me asking about these two houses probably didn't believe that I had no information but that was a fact."
"It really isn’t good enough that Government did not share information with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council or the Ward Councillors," she added.
"In my opinion, this sort of secrecy only creates suspicion" Ms McCarthy said.
"I am also very disappointed with our three Government ministers who didn’t communicate with us.
"Their silence was deafening."
Local Fine Gael councillor Emma Blain said that "keeping all channels of communication open is important, but there has to be some flexibility".
She said: "we are dealing with crisis situations and these facilities often have to be turned around quickly."
All the councillors spoken to were concerned about the fire on Sunday and the social media commentary about that property which preceded it.
"(The house) is due to be used to house very vulnerable women and there are very vulnerable women living in the house next door," Mr Fleming said.
"There could have been a security guard in the house at the time, it's not good" Mr Fleming said.
Ms Blain criticised the "intimidating" behaviour of those who recorded the video about the property circulated last week.
Ms Blain said that the people who are due to be housed in the property were "among the most vulnerable people, who have come from horrible dangerous situations".
"It is up to is to us to welcome and protect them," Ms Blain added.
"The actions of these people are exacerbating an already difficult situation by putting more housing stock out of circulation that could have been used to home the most vulnerable in our society."
