Protesters and campaign groups including students’ unions, trade unions and political parties gathered outside Leinster House today to take a stand against the escalating housing crisis.
You'll see the hashtag #RaiseTheRoof today. Here's what it's for – a protest in Dublin outside Government Buildings about the current housing and homeless problems endemic all around Ireland.
It is led by @_HousingCrisis – practitioners working in these areas to improve them. pic.twitter.com/aC61IM8Sth
— Darragh Doyle (@darraghdoyle) October 3, 2018
The Raise The Roof rally was timed to coincide with a motion on housing raised by opposition parties due to be debated in the Dáil. The ever increasing numbers of people and families forced into homelessness and overcrowding by a lack of social housing and unchecked soaring rents has long been untenable. The Government’s apparent failure to tackle the problem led to an estimate of around seven thousand people filling the streets in protest.
RTE guess of 3k crowd at #RaisetheRoof figure is way to low. Here is a conservative estimate of crowd size based on area occupied shortly after 13.00 including the students on Frederick st – its probably much nearer 10k by now as bottom of Molesworth street fills up. pic.twitter.com/SxVeK2bxyI
— Workers Solidarity (@WSMIreland) October 3, 2018
A recent Sinn Féin motion of No-Confidence against Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy proved unsuccessful, when, amongst other things, Fianna Fail abstained from taking part. The crowds gathered today and the obvious evidence available show that Government action on the issue is sorely lacking.
#RaiseTheRoof this is just the students. Massive crowd expected at Leinster house @paulmurphy_TD @MaryLouMcDonald pic.twitter.com/8DqcW9tT6u
— Stephen McGrane (@stemcgrane) October 3, 2018
TD Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit summed the situation up perfectly when he posted that the rally was “a cry for a generation of young people, homeless families and kids, renters paying obscene rents in insecure tenancies, workers who can’t afford a home, those in mortgage distress. Demand secure, affordable homes for all.”
Today’s #RaiseTheRoof Dail protest (12.30)& motion is a cry for a generation of young people, homeless families &kids,renters paying obscene rents in insecure tenancies, workers who can’t afford a home, those in mortgage distress – Demand secure, affordable #HomesForAll #Oct3rd
— Richard Boyd Barrett (@RBoydBarrett) October 3, 2018
Dublin Bay North TD Tommy Broughan recently said: “The housing crisis has now permeated all aspects of life in Ireland from limiting students from attending third level, pushing generations of families into severe overcrowding accommodation situations, forcing families with children to sleep in cars and people to sleep in tents and with 60 percent of homeless families headed by a lone parent, usually a mother, it is a gendered issue.”
#RaiseTheRoof NOT THE RENT ??? pic.twitter.com/WIUeYFLJcy
— Union of Students in Ireland (@TheUSI) October 3, 2018
He continued: “Ireland has double the rate of homeless females than other European countries and with 43,000 mortgages in arrears of more than two years. Fr Peter McVerry predicts that the crisis will continue to worsen unless something is done, unless real action is taken, unless evictions are prevented and the continuous flow into homelessness and hidden homelessness is stopped. Many of us have been calling on the Government to declare a housing emergency for many years now.”
We’re at #RaisetheRoof rally outside Leinster House. It’s heartening to see people gathering in their numbers to demand for change. We need action now to ensure #HomesforAll pic.twitter.com/Ay6qZPQsM0
— Womenscouncilireland (@NWCI) October 3, 2018
The ongoing event is due to feature keynote speeches featuring amongst others Sheila Nunan of ICTU, Síona Cahill of USI, Orla O’Connor of NWCI, Peter McVerry, Keith Troy of Homeless & Housing Coalition and Aisling Hederman.
Massive #RaiseTheRoof rally at the Dail with thousands of workers & students…this is a game changer. Government must change direction & policy & ensure affordable secure #homesforall pic.twitter.com/NwdUqVdKTy
— Rory Hearne (@RoryHearneGaffs) October 3, 2018
This is a movement that can’t be ignored by people tired of being ignored.
Organisers of the #raisetheroof protest in Dublin claim the turnout is over 15,000. This video will give you an idea of how big the crowd is @NewstalkFM @IvanYatesNT pic.twitter.com/XEp9NaDHkb
— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) October 3, 2018
GCN will keep up to date as the story develops.
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