More than 1,000 people marched in Cork City today, demanding that the government urgently address the housing crisis.
The rally followed news that new home construction is at a 10-year low, while rental prices continue to climb beyond the reach of many.
The ‘Raise the Roof’ protest was organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) along with left-wing political parties.
Aileen Murphy, a pensioner from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, said she used her free travel pass to attend the march.
“I have the bus pass, so it didn’t cost me anything, but I felt I had to be here because I’m worried about the younger generation ever having a home of their own. I’m lucky I have. But if I was stating out today it might be a very different story. We have to worry about the future generation,” she said.
Sean Norberd, from Freemount on the Cork/Limerick border, said he came to support young people struggling to find homes, including nurses.
Theresa Mehegan from Kanturk said her son has saved a house deposit but can’t buy a home due to lack of supply and high demand.
He’s currently renting shared accommodation in Cork City, but wants to live independently. However, she said he can’t afford to do so with the sky-high rents currently being asked.
“Michael Martin would want to stop and think about the damage he’s doing to those who can’t get their own home,” Ms Mehegan said.
Amy Lynch from Carrigaline said attendees were sending a message that the government “can’t turn a blind eye anymore” to the housing crisis.
Her friend Sarah Murray-Fitzgerald from Bishopstown, attending her first protest, said the housing situation “is making it hard for young people to survive.”
Protesters gathered at the National Monument on Grand Parade at 2pm, but the event was delayed by 20 minutes as some attendees had also joined a separate rally in the city supporting Palestinians.
ICTU’s Paul Gavin said many workers now face retiring without owning a home and paying high rents on a meagre pension.
He criticised the consistent failure of successive governments to build public housing on public land.
Mr Gavin proposed immediate solutions, including restoring the Tenant-In-Situ scheme and imposing an effective tax on owners of vacant or derelict properties to encourage refurbishment.
“There are tens of thousands of these properties across the country that could be brought back into use,” he said.
Fórsa trade union campaigns officer Kevin Donoghue called the housing crisis the “number one social issue” for union members.
He argued the only real solution is to give local authorities the funding and authority to build sufficient social, affordable, and cost-rental housing.
Labour TD for Cork North Central Eoghan Kenny described the situation as “completely unacceptable,” noting that 15,000 people — 5,000 of them children — are homeless.
“Governments have ignored the crisis for over a decade. What is needed now is a State-run construction company as private developers hold the monopoly on house-building,” Mr Kenny said.
Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for the same constituency, said protestors were putting pressure on Taoiseach and “Corkman Micheál Martin” to act.
“There are too many boarded up houses all over the place. There are three generations living together in overcrowded houses because there are not enough being built. All the groups represented at this protest are here to highlight solutions,” he said.
Currently, there are more than 300 vacant council houses in Cork City.
Protesters later marched a short distance to Cornmarket Street, where more speakers addressed the crowd. The event also featured live music from legendary Cork singer-songwriter John Spillane.
