Thousands march in Dublin to protest Government housing failures

» Oisín Mac Cann

“This housing crisis has been created and sustained by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments. It can and must be ended. It will be ended with bold and urgent action.” - Mary Lou McDonald TD

Thousands of people from right across Ireland gathered in Dublin today to protest against the Government’s failed housing policy and to demand a change in direction.

The ‘Raise the Roof’ rally assembled at Parnell Square at 1pm, and made its way around the quays, past the Department of Housing before finishing at O’Connell Street beside the GPO.

The latest homelessness figures from the Department of Housing show there are 10,305 people registered as homeless in Ireland, including 3,821 children.

The demonstration was organised by a variety of civic and community groups as a protest against the housing crisis and homelessness.

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald was at the protest alongside a strong Sinn Féin contingent. 

Speaking to An Phoblacht, the Dublin Central TD branded the Taoiseach and Minister for Housing as being “out of touch and incapable of dealing with the housing crisis”.

“The housing crisis is out of control and worsens every day.

“Behind every outworking of this crisis, there are real lives and real people, parents, families, homeowners, tenants, homeless, and those who aspire to own a home.

"This housing crisis has been created and sustained by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments.

"It can and must be ended. It will be ended with bold and urgent action”, she said.

Meanwhile Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin Lynn Boylan said that the issue of homelessness is the number one issue coming up on doors in the lead up to the European Parliament elections. 

“The politics of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are failing. 

“We need to enshrine the right to housing in the constitution so that no other government can walk away from its obligations to ensure a home for its citizens."