Thousands of protestors took to Dublin's streets this afternoon calling for an end to the housing crisis.
Around 3,000 people marched on the Dail as part of the Raise the Roof protest, calling for the Government to address the housing crisis. The demonstration came just a day after record homeless figures of 11,397 were released by the Department of Housing.
Sinn Fein Housing Spokesperson, Eoin O Broin, took part in the protest, which made its way from Parnell Square to from 1pm. He told Dublin Live demonstrators were taking to the streets for the sake of the 3,480 children who were among the damning homeless figures.
Read more: Varadkar accused of 'not knowing what he’s talking about' in the Dail
He said: "This is the first Raise the Roof protest in quite some time and there's going to be more. We're going to keep marching, we're going to keep calling public meetings, we're going to keep raising this issue in the Dail on a cross party basis.
"The trade unions, civil societies, homeless groups and opposition parties, we're all going to keep demanding change. The children who are going to sleep in emergency accommodation tonight need us to keep doing this until the Government gets this right."
Dublin Bay South TD, Chris Andrews, was also among the protesters. He said the Government "are not listening" and called for the deepening crisis to be treated as an emergency.
The Sinn Fein TD said: "The Government just don't get the message that there is a housing emergency and we have to treat it like that and we have to have funding and resources to build public housing on public land. Clearly they're not listening and they have a different philosophy but their philosophy isn't working."
Actor Liam Cunningham said solving the housing crisis would also prevent a "brain drain" due to people moving abroad and would help keep businesses alive. The Game of Thrones star said: "This is an extremely important subject that hasn't been taken Government. This is why we have to be on the streets. A protest like this worked for the water charges and it's going to work for housing."
Another protester told Dublin Live the lack of housing causes deeper social issues that affect every part of the community. She said: "It's not just about housing, it's about social conditioning.
"There are people who are probably in domestic violence situations who cannot leave, they can't get out. Children in abusive situations, people who are separated and possibly homeless now.
"Things happen in people's lives and the Government should have a strategy put in place where when things affect you in your life that you have options. It's not just about young people not being able to find homes. It's a much bigger issue and it's a very deep social issue."
The protest made it's way to Merrion Square where a number of speakers addressed the crowd. They included James O'Toole, one of the residents of Tathony House in Dublin 8 who are facing mass eviction next year.
Addressing the crowd, he said: "My neighbour is an Indian woman who works in James's Hospital. She's going to be made homeless in the New Year.
"Vasily, a construction worker who lives downstairs in my block, 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 can't afford to live in this city."
Mr O'Toole also branded the housing crisis as a "criminal abdication of responsibility" by Government.
Read next:
- Renters paying €2k more per year as rents in Dublin rise more than 14% in 12 months
- Dublin property prices keep rising with most expensive Eircode in the capital
- Almost €40 million owed to Dublin City Council in social housing rent arrears
- Donabate housing development for over 1,300 homes granted planning permission
- UCD scraps plans for 1,200 student beds due to 'spiralling' construction costs
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