Communities need more resources and consultation around the housing of refugees and asylum seekers.

That's the message from Dublin Communities Against Racism, an activist group that held a demonstration outside Leinster House today.

The group is condemning racism towards refugees as well as government policies "that have brought about conflict and division in our communities".

Protests held against the housing of refugees and asylum seekers have sprung up across the country in recent weeks.

"We're here to say refugees are welcome, but we're also here to call out the government on where they're lacking", one anti-racist protester said today.

"They have absolutely ignored working class communities."

'Political agenda'

Several dozen people attended today's rally, which is more than have been at some of the recent anti-refugee protests.

"I'm scared by what's going on in our communities and whilst there is justifiable anger out there, I think the anger is being directed at the wrong people", one of today's attendees said.

"I think it's being stoked and sparked by agitators that are not actually from our communities, that are coming in with their own political agenda."

"We just want to show there's an alternative route to that", another protestor said.

"We're going to demand that from the government that they now engage properly with community representatives, political representatives ... and try and start from that space."

Lacking support

There is little real community support for the anti-refugee protests being held, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said.

Protests held against the housing of refugees and asylum seekers have sprung up across the country in recent weeks but the Social Democrats TD said, in his experience, they did not represent the majority view with local communities.

“The numbers are very small and [so is] the support they have within the communities,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“I canvas around East Wall and Dublin Central quite regularly - it very rarely comes up on doors… Everyone agrees the [Direct Provision] centres in and of themselves are not suitable for the people seeking international protection.

“But nobody feels the right course of action is to blame the people in the centres seeking sanctuary here or to stand outside protesting in what can only be described as incredibly intimidating behaviour for the people inside.”

Main image shows Leinster House in Dublin.