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The Government has agreed that at least 5,000 Syrian refugees will be allowed into the country.

But there are still strains in the Coalition about how high the eventual numbers could go.

And last night it emerged that one of the country’s oldest army camps is to close down as a military facility to make way for the displaced families.

The sprawling Gormanston camp in Co Meath is being considered as a potential temporary new home for hundreds of Syrian families fleeing the carnage in their home country, the Irish Mirror has learned.

Although Gormanston is still a working barracks used by the 28th Infantry Battalion, its proximity to Dublin airport and the M1 motorway make it an ideal site to house refugees.

(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)

But if the former Aer Corps base is to be used, hundreds of prefabs will be needed to accommodate the Syrians under the emergency refugee accommodation plan.

A source said: “The numbers being talked about are going to present very serious problems.

“Sure there are a number of empty barracks available but given the numbers we’re beginning to hear, these alone could not accommodate the numbers being proposed.

“Gormanston has nearly 260 acres and despite the fact there are some security issues, it could easily become a small town.”

This would not be the first time the camp, which began its life as an RAF base in WW1, is used to house refugees.

At the start of the Troubles in 1969, large numbers of refugees mainly from Belfast moved across the Border to escape the violence and were housed at Gormanston.

By October 1971, more than 12,000 people had passed through it.

(Image: Maxwells)

Yesterday, the Taoiseach denied there was any split in the Coalition over the amount of numbers that should be accepted insisting: “There is absolutely no split in what we want to do as a government.”

Enda Kenny said refugees must be allowed to seek asylum in Ireland to escape ISIS, who he claimed wants to “blow up Newgrange”.

He said monuments like the Co Meath attraction and the Rock of Cashel would be offensive to Islamic State jihadists, adding that a special Cabinet meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow (THURS) to discuss the refugee crisis.

But he again would not give an exact figure on the number of refugees despite Tánaiste Joan Burton saying the country should take 5,000.

The Taoiseach added: “When people say ‘how many are you going to take in?’, I want to see the European model here first of all.

“Why do they have to cross the sea at all, if you are in a position to assess if they are eligible for relocation or asylum status? Don’t be just fixated on a number, Ireland will do what it can.”

Meanwhile, the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) called on the Government to start planning for the refugees to arrive.

(Image: Phil Harris)

ICI chief executive Brian Killoran said: “While much of the political, public and media debate has been about numbers of people being admitted to each country – there has been a lack of focus on meeting the needs of those arriving.

“We need to refocus discussion now on what procedures will be put in place to ensure that the rights of those coming to Ireland are respected.

“The Government needs to set out an Action Plan which will ensure that procedures are put in place not only to secure accommodation, but also to quickly process the applications of those seeking asylum to swiftly give them the right to work and to guarantee family reunification for those split from their loved ones.”