The former Northern minister warned that the proposal to put up a 25ft security fence at Hazelwood, in the north of the city, showed there was " no confidence" in the current political situation.

Although there has been no trouble at the site over the last year officials intend to go ahead with the contentious proposal after security assessments by the PSNI.

During a debate in Westminster Lord Dubs said he was "disappointed" by the decision.

He told the Lords: "That assessment was made a long time ago. I am assured that there has been no trouble in the area for a year. Is there not a case for looking at it again?

"I have the utmost respect for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, but if things have settled down in the area, surely there is a case for saying, 'Do we really need this?'."

Other peers raised concerns about the decision - sanctioned by Security Minister Paul Goggins - was sending out and claimed there must be a " better way" to deal with community tensions.

But Lord Rooker insisted the fence was needed to protect families living nearby from the threat of firebombing.

He said: "The decision to erect a security fence at the perimeter of Hazelwood integrated primary school was taken on the basis of a security assessment by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and in consultation with local residents and the school.

"While we do not propose to reconsider the decision at this time, this security measure will be subject to review, which will include input from the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council.

"My noble friend accepts that it is not a wall. It is at the perimeter of the school, in fact it is at the edge of the staff car park. It is simply designed to stop people entering the school and firebombing the new houses nearby, which is what they were doing.

"That is why the residents demanded some action. It has taken a while to get to the point that we are at now, and the assessment was that there should be a fence.

"The situation is that some nearby houses, which were new, private sector, mixed community houses, were arson-attacked in 2005 and again in 2006.

"These are the homes of young families. Rightly, the residents said that the school fence was giving easy access to those who were firebombing the houses and that something had to be done."