Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Dublin on Saturday, demanding an end to Ireland’s housing crisis.
Roughly 3,000 people attended the march on the Dail (Lower House of the Irish Government) as part of the ‘Raise the Roof’ movement. The march came a day after record homeless statistics of 11,39 were released by Ireland’s Department of Housing.
Protesters were seen waving flags and banners as they marched through the Irish Republic’s capital. Several speakers addressed the mass of demonstrators, including James O’Toole, a resident of Tathony House. He and his neighbours face mass eviction next year.
“Vasily, a construction worker who lives downstairs in my block, is just one of the 25 units in my block. Vasily is a construction worker, he has an injured back. He’s given his body to making the Aparthotels and the apartments that we can’t afford all over this city. The people that work in this city, can’t afford to live in this city,” O’Toole said.
The Raise the Roof movement is supported by several Irish trade unions and is calling for secure, affordable homes for all who live and work in Ireland.
The activist group also demands rents that allow households a decent living and protection from evictions.
