DUBLIN: Thousands of people have taken part in a protest in Dublin to highlight the country’s housing crisis, with demonstrators calling for immediate action from the Government to address the shortage of housing.
The rally was organised by Raise the Roof, a campaign group made up of trade unions, advocacy groups, homelessness agencies and student unions and political parties.
The rally started at Parnell Square and made its way to Government Buildings where a number of speeches were made.
Thousands of people of all ages filled Merrion Square South.
Seniors and pensioners urged the government to act alongside students and young families.
Near the government buildings, a stage was set up where a number of union and campaign group speakers addressed the gathering.
Participating opposition parties included Labour, the Social Democrats, Sinn Féin, and People Before Profit.
Speaking at the event were INMO general secretary Phil N' Sheaghdha, Focus Ireland's Louise Bayliss, housing expert Dr. Rory Hearne, and representatives of organisations that support asylum seekers.
One of those leading the march to the government buildings was the actor Liam Cunningham.
According to Mr. Cunningham, who spoke to the PA news agency, "I am sick and weary of foreign investment, vulture money, and absentee landlords—whom the revolutionaries in this country took 800 years to drive out—that this government and the one before it have invited back in.
These folks are in it for the money. People in this country are suffering as a result of them because they lack a soul and a heart.
Dr. Hearne urged the government to reform its housing policy right away.
Big crowds on the street for Raise the Roof rally in Dublin #RaiseTheRoof @MaryLouMcDonald @EOBroin pic.twitter.com/ObKzwF01HN
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) November 26, 2022
"Those who are homeless did not start this crisis. The excessive consumption of avocado toast by millennials is not the cause. The refugees are not the cause. Inflation is not the cause, Dr. Hearne informed the audience.
It's time for change, and it will begin today. "This housing crisis was generated by government policies which year after year after year failed to freeze rents, refused to develop social housing, refused to combat disrepair and vacancy, and refused to put the money that was needed into it.
The housing plans of the government, according to Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny, are ineffective.
He said that the Government is missing its housing targets and that is what is driving people on to the streets to protest.
Great turnout for the #RaiseTheRoof rally.
— Social Democrats (@SocDems) November 26, 2022
We have record house prices.
Record rents.
Record numbers in homelessness.
We need change ✊#HomesforAll pic.twitter.com/NyMY7V6Z8U
According to statistics, 11,397 individuals were officially counted as homeless in Ireland last month.
3,480 kids and 1,601 families are included.
The Department of Housing's statistics reached a record high for the fourth month in a row.
From the 10,975 people who were reported as homeless in September, there was an increase of 422 people in one month to October.
From 8,830 persons listed as homeless in October of last year, Focus Ireland, a housing charity, said the data reflected a 29% increase in the number of people without a home in the past year.
