There has been widespread criticism of the Government's handling of plans to accommodate asylum seekers at the site of a former paint factory in Coolock, after they made a u-turn on the decision today.
The Department of Justice's Community Engagement team wrote to local representatives in the the north Dublin suburb today to tell them they no longer have plans to build an IPAS centre on the site.
It says planning delays were one of the reasons for the decision, but they also took a number of factors into account including value for money to the State, the works needed to meet the required standards for accommodation and the welfare of any future residents of the site.
But opposition politicians have strongly condemned the Government's handling of the issue, saying it played into the hands of violent protesters.
There have also been calls for an inquiry and an apology to the community for the damage and division caused and for the site to be now used as a community resource for the area.
The Coolock Says No group described the decision as a "great victory" and an "inspiration for the rest of the country".
In a statement on social media they said: "We have defeated the government on their madness".
IPAS centre 'should never have been considered'
Sinn Féin TD Denise Mitchell, who is from the area, welcomed clarity on the decision but said an IPAS centre should never have been considered for the site in the first place
She said the protests and violence had been a difficult time for the area and caused divisions in the community
"It was hard time for Coolock, we even saw people living in the vicinity who couldn't get up and down the road, couldn't get home from work and it split families, so I think its time now for Coolock to rebuild this fantastic community we have here," she said.
"But the Government need to step up here. This lies firmly on them. They made this decision. It was the wrong site. They didn't engage properly with the people of Coolock, with elected representatives. And it was never right from the start."
She also called or the Government to invest in the area in the wake of the decision
"The community of Coolock has been put through the ringer by this Government. Our community has been suffering decades of neglect from previous Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments, so what I would like to see is the Government invest into Coolock. Give us the supports that we need, community centres, youth clubs and sports facilities."
Labour MEP for Dublin, and former TD for the area, Aodhán Ó Riordáin said that the government decision played into the and of violent protesters and he called for an inquiry into the handling of this issue.
He said elected representatives who supported the plans now felt foolish.
"Everybody wanted this to be a success story. Every public representative, every TD and councillor was acting in good faith from the beginning. Clearly, it was a lot to take on board. I think this is a template for how not to handle anything.
"There has to be an investigation or an inquiry within the Department, because this has just been a complete disaster from beginning to end. It's caused a lot of friction locally. It has really hurt a lot of people, and it has ended up with nothing for anybody," he said.
"Unfortunately, the Department have now handed to those who have a strong feeling around IPAS centres, they've given them a template about what to do if you want to stop it.
"What the Department should have been able to hand to people is a template of how to do this properly, how to engage, how to integrate and how to give information. All of us who made the effort to be big hearted from every political party and every local representative now feels foolish for having trusted department that they could do this properly," he added.
Independent Councillor John Lyons said he was not surprised by the decision, saying he believed the government had messed up by not consulting properly with the local community.
He called on the government to apologise for the damage, division and hurt he said they had caused in Coolock.
Social Democrats Councillor Jesslyn Henry said she was happy a decision had been made on the future of the site.
She said there had been much anxiety around the issue in the community and that they had had a tough time.
She said she now wanted the government to ensure the former paint factory site is now used for good in the community.
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