Thousands of Irish people protested housing 'nightmare'

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Dublin city centre to protest against homelessness new record, and the expensive Irish rental housing and the cost of living.

The ‘Raise the Roof’ rally brought thousands out to march through the city centre carrying placards and chanting slogans. Protestors walked from Parnell Square along the south and north quays before holding a rally at O’Connell Street.

Activists called for the construction of more public housing, an end to evictions, more robust rent controls and for a right to housing to be formally inserted into the state’s constitution.

Latest figures from the 26 County Department of Housing (according to a manipulated statistics formula) show there were 10,305 people registered as homeless in Ireland in March, including 3,821 children.

Rents in Ireland have risen for the 27th quarter in a row to an all-time high. One in every 10 households is now spending over 60% of its income to pay rent, which averages at €1,366 ($1,525) per week, with the housing supply lower than ever.

A number of speakers from unions and political parties addressed the crowds at the GPO.

“This campaign is in its early days,” said Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin. “Raise the Roof is becoming an extremely important social movement across the state.

“It has a very clear message: the government’s policy is failing. I think [Minister for Housing] Eoghan Murphy is beginning to feel the heat, and what people today should take from that is that the next event has to be bigger.”

Activist and playwright Emmet Kirwan said people were frustrated and angry at the government for letting down Irish citizens who had been caught up in the crisis.