The Minister for Justice has said it is envisaged that a property on Achill Island in Co Mayo will be used to house around 40 asylum seekers.

A hotel has been selected as a location to provide emergency temporary accommodation.

Charlie Flanagan said the premises had been offered to the Department of Justice following a recent tender process.

Speculation that the Achill Head Hotel in Keel could be used by the State's Reception and Integration Agency prompted a public meeting in the area last night.

The gathering heard concerns about the infrastructural pressures that might occur as a result of such a move. Many of those present called for more consultation with residents, in advance of any tender being awarded.

Today, a small number of people staged what was described as a "silent vigil" outside the hotel. None would speak publicly about their concerns.

Mr Flanagan said the accommodation provided in Achill would be temporary in nature and would cater for in the region of 40 people. He said "an appropriate suite of services" would be made available to them.

The minister said he was keen to ensure that the Departments of Health and Education were involved with the Health Service Executive to ensure all necessary supports were provided to people "in a most vulnerable situation."

He added that communities had nothing to fear from temporary accommodation arrangements, saying initial fears in some communities, rapidly gave way to a "warm welcome."

But Mr Flanagan said he was concerned that a small number of people were engaged in "whipping up" fears in several parts of the country.

He said the law in this area was in need of review and that this was the reason he had launched a public consultation process on hate speech today.

Mr Flanagan said the number of people seeking international protection in Ireland was higher than ever.

There was a shared responsibility on the department and on communities to ensure that people seeking assistance were properly looked after, he added.