Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman has rejected suggestions that there was limited engagement with the local community in Coolock on a proposed new accommodation centre.
Violent disturbances broke out at the site of the old Crown Paints factory - a proposed development for International Protection applicants - after trucks and construction equipment were brought on site.
A security guard was injured, petrol bombs and fireworks were thrown, a digger was set on fire and two garda cars were damaged.
Twenty-one people were arrested and charged, 15 of whom appeared in court last night, with a further six appearing in court this afternoon.
Speaking this afternoon, Mr O'Gorman said "very detailed information was in the public domain for a considerable time".
In late March, the Department's community engagement team notified TDs, councillors and Dublin City Council that an offer had come in for the Crown Paints site to be used for housing people.
In early April, there was a meeting with TDs, councillors and community representatives and detailed briefing documents were circulated.
Mr O'Gorman said there was no excuse for the scenes in Coolock last night and the damage to public and private property.
Earlier, Taoiseach Simon Harris said no amount of community engagement could have prevented the public order incident that unfolded in Coolock.
He praised the "swift action" of gardaí in policing the incident and the subsequent late-night sittings of the courts.
The Taoiseach said what unfolded yesterday was the "hijacking of a situation" by a group of people who engaged in "utter thuggery" and was not reflective of the people in Coolock.
The Department of Integration said work to convert the site of the former Crown Paints factory into accommodation for around 550 IP applicants had been delayed for several months.
However, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the violence was intermittent throughout the day and was quickly brought under control.
A protest camp has been in place outside the former Crown Paints factory site since March.
Minister defends garda response
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has defended the garda response to events yesterday, saying it was not a legitimate protest but rather criminal behaviour with offences such as arson and assault.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, she said it was an extremely difficult situation for gardaí and she could not commend them enough.
Earlier, Ms McEntee said the scenes in Coolock were "completely unacceptable" and "will not be tolerated".
Speaking outside Government Buildings, the minister said she expects "more arrests later on in the day".
"Importantly, as well, bodycams were used yesterday and will be part of the evidence in the coming weeks and months," she added.
The minister said plans to accommodate IP applicants at the Coolock site "will continue as set out".
Regarding online discourse about the plan, she said: "Unfortunately we are in an era where misinformation, disinformation and discourse can spread online."
Ms McEntee said Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman and his department "are engaging "with communities".
"It has been known for sometime now that there would be men, women and children taking refuge in Coolock," she said.
Govt accused of handling matter poorly
Independent councillor John Lyons said there was a lack of community engagement over the proposed site and accused the Government of handling the matter poorly.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, he said a meeting with the Department of Integration's community engagement team took place in April, with further meetings due to take place, but this did not happen.
Mr Lyons said he was told that "due to diary pressures", the community engagement team were unavailable in mid-April and "since that point to yesterday, we've had no information."
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He said disinformation was a problem as "bad faith actors on the far right" deliberately spread lies to generate a fearful environment and that most people in Coolock were warm and welcoming and were shocked by yesterday's events.
Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay North Richard Bruton said what happened yesterday designed to "sow fear and division in the community."
"I find it totally galling to see people flying our national flag and claiming to be protecting the local community because nothing could be further from the truth - like what patriot would condone this?"
Speaking on the same programme, Mr Bruton said it was unfair to insinuate that there was no engagement, adding that "the people who are protesting yesterday are not worried about either how we are going to integrate into our community and provide stability for people’s needs in the most appalling circumstances."
Mr Bruton said the Department of Integration made a genuine effort to engage with the area and he doubted another meeting would have prevented the incident.
Additional reporting: Marc O'Driscoll
