Three new accommodation centres are to open in Dublin in a bid to reduce the number of asylum seekers sleeping rough.
The locations are the former Senior College on Eblana Avenue in Dún Laoghaire, Airways Industrial Estate in Santry and Dolcain House in Clondalkin.
Minister for Equality and Integration Roderic O'Gorman said another 350 beds for asylum seekers are due to come on stream over the coming days, but there a few remaining issues such as securing fire safety certs.
According to the latest statistics, 503 recently arrived asylum seekers are currently without State-provided accommodation.
In Santry in north Dublin, there has been political opposition to the proposal that asylum seekers are housed at Airways Industrial Estate.
The Social Democrats deputy and local TD Roisin Shortall said: "The accommodation situation for asylum seekers is now in crisis. The Government's failure to meet its own targets has resulted in it using extremely unsuitable industrial buildings to house vulnerable migrants."
"There must be co-ordination with local authorities, and immigrant support agencies, to support integration into local communities. It is also essential that plans to provide essential services - like healthcare, education and training - are also outlined," Ms Shortall added.
TDs in Dún Laoghaire have broadly welcomed the opening of an accommodation centre for asylum seekers on Eblana Avenue.
People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett said the building had been largely unused for a decade but it was far better that asylum seekers lived there rather than in tents.
He said he was inquiring about the proposed provision of services for the people who will stay there.
Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll McNeill said she "looked forward to the proper integration of those tragically displaced by war and conflict into the Dún Laoghaire community."
She added: "Particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine, we have had to expand our efforts to accommodate refugees and ensure every offer of accommodation is availed of to prevent homelessness."
Minister of State and Green TD Ossian Smyth said: "Dún Laoghaire is a port town and has always had a lot of migrants - some arriving, some leaving. There is a huge amount of amenities in Dún Laoghaire and local groups will work with the refugees to provide English language lessons and other activities."
He added: "The proposed location in Eblana Avenue is in the centre of the town and has been mostly disused for the past decade. Some work is still needed on it before it will be ready to be lived in."
Fianna Fail TD Cormac Devlin said he has "requested a briefing to clarify the proposed arrangements".
"They need to ensure adequate services and facilities are in place - along with a management framework for the proposed site," he said.
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Mr O'Gorman said that the new accommodation in Inch, Co Clare "has to be used" and that he would have a video conference with representatives of the protest, if they requested it, or meet them at his department in Dublin.
TDs and senators from Co Clare have met with the minister to discuss the opposition by local people to the housing of male asylum seekers at a hotel in Inch.
Mr O’Gorman explained that 10,000 beds have been added to the system since January, to help both Ukrainians and asylum seekers, but they have been used to take the place of hotels which ended their contracts.
On the use of so-called pods, he said it had been raised at a recent Cabinet sub-committee and a site had been selected in Mullingar which will have 50 pods looking after 200 people.
The minister said "a piece of work" has to be done - ensuring that planning exemptions for Ukrainians also apply to people seeking International Protection.
Mr O'Gorman said he does feel supported by his Cabinet colleagues when it comes to securing accommodation for asylum seekers but added that all ministers "need to do more".
He repeated that it isn't open to Ireland to reduce the numbers of people who claim asylum here.
But he added anyone granted residency here is being encouraged to find other accommodation and, there-by, make room for new arrivals.
Tender issued for Govt strategy on housing migrants
A tender has been issued for the Government's communication strategy on housing migrants, the Minister for Community Development has told the Dáil
"I'd like to see it come as soon as possible," Joe O'Brien said.
"The tender is out. We hope to have some answers on that soon, and we'll develop a new communications strategy which will help."
"The Department of the Taoiseach has been drawing up plans for a communications strategy over the last couple of months," he said.
There have been "difficulties" with new centres opening "in the meantime", the minister added.
He was responding to Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD, who said that "the repetition of mistakes time and time again" - starting in October in East Wall and continuing up to "this weekend" - was "unacceptable".
"As soon as a contract gets agreed" to provide migrant accommodation in a particular location a briefing document for the accommodation centre is shared "with all the local elected reps", the minister said.
"The problem" lies in the "quite tight" timing between signing the contract and moving people in, he added.
Even with the new strategy "it will still be difficult" as the timeline will remain tight.
Cabinet 'at war' - Social Democrats
The Cabinet is "at war" on the issue of housing refugees, Social Democrats Holly Cairns leader has claimed.
She described the Government response to the crisis as "chaotic" and said there are real fears that scenes witnessed in Dublin at the weekend will be repeated.
She criticised the fact that there is no communications strategy from the Government yet.
"Every Government department has contributed to the national effort," Minister for Justice Minister Simon Harris said.
He said the Government is "making real progress", added that the first rapid build housing units are due to come on stream this week.
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The Chief Executive of a Limerick-based non-profit organisation that helps promote and protect the rights of migrants, said Ireland is at a crisis point when it comes to reception and accommodation for asylum seekers.
John Lannon of Doras said far right mis-information and lies have contributed to community issues, as has poor communication from the Government.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said it is important people understand that asylum seekers - including men - are in Ireland legally.
"The public need to understand why refugees are here, what the medium to long-term plan is for their accommodation and integration and why they need to help.
"And it's really important that everyone knows that asylum seekers, including men, are here legally and should be treated with the same dignity and respect as everybody else."
Mr Lannon said the location of Magowna House is not an ideal one, particularly for men who might not have much English.
However, he added, people will make the most of poor conditions if they know it is temporary and are given a welcome.
Additional reporting Sinead Spain
