Politicians in Co Kildare are angry they were not informed about the housing of 60 refugees in a hotel in Newbridge.
The chairman of Kildare County Council, Mr John O'Neill, said he found out that refugees had been moved into the Eyre Powell Hotel last week several hours after it happened. He accused the officials of "sneaky tactics".
But county manager Mr Niall Bradley said officials had no advance warning of the move, which was made by the Northern Area Health Board.
"We may have got copies of correspondence between the health board and property owners purely on the basis of information in terms of what arrangements might be made on payments," Mr Bradley told councillors.
He said the council had a role as a planning authority if a planning application was necessary and as a fire authority, but "other than that we do not have any role whatsoever".
But the health board said the council had notice about the move.
"The local authority would have had to know before these people moved in because they are the ones who have to pick up the bill," a health board spokesperson said. A council spokesperson refused to add to the county manager's statement.
The 22 families (around 60 refugees) were placed by the health board in the hotel on a self-catering basis last Friday. They are Irish citizens because they have children born in the State.
Under an understanding among various Government Departments, county councils act as funding conduits for refugee centres such as the Eyre Powell.
There has been a mixed reaction in the area to the accommodation of the refugees.
"I think the councillors should have been informed about what was going on . . . I do think sneaky tactics were used. I do not blame the county manager but something was going on," said Mr O'Neill, from Newbridge. Ms Roma Swaine, who was refused council-funded emergency accommodation in the Eyre Powell shortly before the refugees were accepted, is annoyed.
"How can they help people not long in the country and not people who have been here on housing lists for years? It doesn't make sense."
Ms Swaine lives with three of her children in a hostel in Athy. They must vacate the hostel between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
Others in Newbridge have welcomed the refugees. Resident and chairman of Amnesty International Mr Colm ╙ Cuanachβin said the town should welcome people from different cultures.
"It saddened me that people were unwilling to see this as an opportunity to create an open environment, an environment that welcomes everyone wherever they may come from" said Mr ╙ Cuanachβin. "It is not fair on them. They are here and are entitled to be housed. There is a responsibility on the service providers to provide accommodation for local people as well but let's not scapegoat the refugees for the failures of others."