Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman has said that the site in Coolock where protests have been held in recent days will be used to house International Protection applicants.
He said this was due to the pressure facing the country when it comes to the number of International Protection applicants coming to Ireland.
He added that the department would work with gardaí and the accommodation provider to enable this to happen for up to 500 applicants.
The minister said that he did not agree that there had been a lack of engagement with local representatives, adding that the department engaged early and significantly.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Mr O’Gorman said that there would be further engagement when the International Protection applicants are housed at the site.
"I don’t accept that the level of violence that we saw in Coolock earlier this week was as the result of workers coming in at night," he said.
"There was nothing hidden ... Our approach to each site is directed by the operational decisions An Garda Síochána make," he added.
Mr O’Gorman said that he was happy with engagement in relation to dealing with incidents and accessing sites.
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"The need to deal with far-right activists and violent situations has grown very suddenly in the last two years," he said, adding that there was a strong response from gardaí.
Read more: Garda Public Order Unit move protesters from Coolock site
He said that assessments are being done on 30 buildings at present for the Government to buy to house International Protection applicants.
He added that examinations would take place before community engagement teams begin to discuss plans with individuals.
The policy, he said, was about having core State-owned International Protection accommodation, and that it is delivering and "working" so far in its various strands.
He said that some of the 30 buildings may function as reception and integration centres, while others will be constructed from scratch on State-owned land.
Engagement will be taking place in terms of purchasing buildings with the Department of Public Expenditure, he said.
Regarding unaccommodated asylum seekers and those rough sleeping, he said that his department can intervene, provide offers of accommodation and move quickly.
