A village is trying to stop a refugee camp for 2,300 Ukrainians being built on its doorstep.
The people of Laytown, Co Meath, do not want 569 modular houses on a 15-acre site beside their train station to go ahead.
An application for the development was lodged with Meath planners by two private companies over a week ago.
Read more: Dublin’s north inner city home to more Ukrainian refugees than any other part of Ireland
They are seeking temporary permission over five years to build the two-bedroom houses.
But Laytown residents fear the developers will seek permanent planning permission when the five years is up.
Opposition to the project is being led by local Drogheda Labour TD Ged Nash.
He said: “The state agency responsible for accommodating refugees from Ukraine is not involved with the proposal submitted to Meath County Council.
“The site is zoned for industry so councillors will have to vote on a change of use for houses.”
Laytown councillor Stephen McKee is also against the refugee plan.
He said: “When it comes to deciding how many refugees we should accommodate the Government needs to base its decision on the needs of the local areas and their capacity to accommodate those seeking assistance.
“Our area desperately needs extra community infrastructure.
“There is already a shortage of school places and we don’t have a full time local Garda station in Laytown.
“How can the area realistically accommodate residents from a 569-home development?”
Read more: Government to consider renting Citywest Hotel to house Ukrainian refugees for two years
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