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The Journal
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Tenants' protest planned for Dublin today as 80 unions seek momentum for all-island fight
MORE THAN 80 trade unions and organisations have lent backing to a housing protest taking place in Dublin city centre later today. Organised by the renters group called Community Action Tenants Union Ireland (Catu), it is seeking for the Dáil to immediately implement a number of measures to protect people across the island from homelessness. The demonstration will start at 1pm at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square. These include the introduction and re-instatement of the eviction ban, which expired in March two years ago, and a commitment to ensure no child is living in emergency accommodation by 2026. It also wants 'proper resourcing' of the Tenant in Situ scheme, which has been hit by changes and restrictions that risked sending people into homelessness . The union also demands a rapid expansion of community mental health and addiction supports to address the complex harms experienced by many people forced into the homeless system. Describing itself as an all-island union, it also wants the same measures implemented by Stormont in the North. Advertisement Organisations who have endorsed include Forsa, Siptu, Conradh na Gaeilge and Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland. John Bohan, a member of Catu's national committee, said today's protest is trying to capture 'anger' on the issue that he feels was lost due to the pandemic. 'There had been such momentum on housing as an issue. Before the pandemic hit, you had these massive protests, occupations of key buildings like Apollo House , you had pushback against evictions, and you had the big Raise the Roof rallies ,' Bohan said. 'Covid just put a pause on that. I think the big danger is to turn housing into a new healthcare, where people are like, 'Oh, that's that's a joke, it's been broken for years and it will take a load of years to fix it so what can you do?' That sense of apathy has really built up.' The latest figures show that 15,747 people were living in emergency accommodation in May. The figure includes 4,844 children – some 69 more than last month. The statistics do not include people rough sleeping, refugees, asylum seekers, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those experiencing 'hidden homelessness', such as sleeping in cars, on couches, or other unsuitable living conditions. Bohan said the the aim of today's protest is that to direct anger towards people who are 'responsible delivering policy decisions, to help organise and focus our friends and neighbors towards people with power who change things'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Housing union holds protest in Dublin to highlight 'deepening housing crisis'
A protest was held outside the Property Industry Ireland Conference in Dublin City Centre on Thursday morning. The Community Action Tenants' Union (CATU) held the protest where Housing Minister James Browne was due to speak in response to recent Government announcements that limited rent controls through rent pressure zones will be lifted, and the decision to cut funding from the tenant in situ scheme. CATU members across Dublin joined the picket outside the property conference in protest of deepening housing crisis which recently saw average rents in Dublin rise to over €2500 per month - nearly the entire median monthly wage. CATU has called an all-island housing protest for Saturday July 5 at 1pm in Dublin City Centre to demand immediate housing action from the Government including a commitment to lower rents, and ensure no child is in emergency accommodation by the end of 2026. John Bohan, a member of CATU's National Committee, states that: 'Policy is being written for developers' profits rather than public good. 'Whether it's being evicted from your home with a few weeks' notice, or seeing your children emigrate due to lack of affordable housing, hardly anyone on this island has not been affected by the years of disastrous housing policy in Ireland that is being written by business. Bohan continued: 'No Minister should be making any concessions to landlords and property developers when the number of families living in hotels rises month to month. We are calling on everyone affected by this crisis to mobilise with us on July 5th in Dublin city centre to make it very clear to the government that enough is enough.' CATU is an all-island union and is calling on both the Dáil and Stormont to immediately implement a number of measures to protect people across the island from homelessness, including the introduction and reinstatement of the eviction ban. They are also calling for a commitment to ensure no child is living in emergency accommodation by 2026, and a full and proper resourcing of the tenant in situ scheme. The union is also demanding an end to the inhumane and exploitative direct provision system, and urgent resourcing and provision of culturally appropriate Traveller accommodation to end the discrimination which sees Travellers overrepresented in the homeless figures. The union also demands a rapid expansion of community mental health and addiction supports to address the complex harms experienced by many people forced into the homeless system. Aislinn Marchant, CATU member in Galway commented: 'The crisis is playing out across the country in so many ways. Rents in Galway have rocketed 70 per cent in five years - fueled in part by illegal short-term lets. Landlords flout regulations, with just four per cent of Galway's Airbnbs having proper planning permission, turning housing into illegal profit machines. 'Like so many aspects of the housing crisis, political will is what is needed, including proper enforcement of legislation, a cap on short term lets, and introducing the Short Term Tourist Letting Register.'
