19 June 2025 - Hundreds Protest Outside Leinster House Over Ireland’s Housing Crisis
'Shame on this government': Raise the Roof housing protest takes place outside Leinster House
Andrew Walsh (The Journal, 17/06/2025)
Hundreds of people have gathered for a rally outside Leinster House this evening calling for urgent government action on the housing crisis. The ‘Raise the Roof’ protest on Molesworth Street was coordinated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which has described the crisis as “the greatest political failure of our time”. The protest is supported by most opposition parties. Flags for the opposition parties, as well as a number of trade union groups, could be seen among the crowd this afternoon. A number of opposition leaders and TDs addressed the crowd, including Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne and People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who arrived back in Ireland from Egypt earlier today.
Protest outside Dáil over Ireland's growing housing crisis
Kevin Sharkey (BBC News, 18/06/2025)
A major protest has taken place outside the Dáil (lower house of the Irish parliament) over the Republic of Ireland's growing housing crisis. The Raise the Roof protest was coordinated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which has described the crisis as "the greatest political failure of our time". The rally on Tuesday evening coincided with a Dáil debate on the issue. "Workers are being priced out of homes or can only rent or purchase with considerable financial burden," said Ethel Buckley, SIPTU deputy general secretary. "Alongside the human cost of this, we are seeing the serious knock-on effects, with thousands of unfilled vacancies in key sectors, and young people once again choosing to emigrate. "What is needed now is a radical reset with sustained action to deliver secure, affordable housing."
Hundreds attend Raise the Roof rally outside Dáil
Sandra Hurley and Paul Cunningham (RTE News, 17/06/2025)
The Raise the Roof campaign group held a rally outside the Dáil calling for urgent Government action on Ireland's housing and homelessness crisis. The group is coordinated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and is supported by most Opposition parties. Hundreds of people gathered in Molesworth Street opposite Leinster House for the protest and the street was closed to traffic. The event was heavily promoted by unions and Opposition parties and flags representing those bodies are prominent in the crowd. The demonstrators were addressed by leaders of the main Opposition parties, including Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik and Paul Murphy - the PBP Solidarity TD who earlier returned from Egypt.
Department finds 'positive indicators' of increasing housing supply, committee to hear
Cianan Brennan (Irish Examiner, 18/06/2025)
The head of the department of housing says that “positive indicators” have emerged in terms of increasing housing supply, but that “major challenges” remain. The department’s secretary general Graham Doyle will on Thursday tell the Public Accounts Committee that in 2023 the number of new homes delivered was up 10% on that delivered in 2022, exceeding the Government’s overarching Housing For All plan by nearly 13%, with 32,695 properties completed over the 12 months. He will add that 41,224 planning permissions were granted for new homes in 2023. However, he will also acknowledge the ongoing issues with delivering adequate supply for Ireland’s population. “At a broader level we continue to see major challenges around increased demand, increased costs and complex issues around unlocking supply at the pace and scale required. "This will remain an area of acute focus for the Department,” Mr Doyle is expected to say.
Ireland Flag. Wikipedia, Public Domain.
