Calls for support for housing demonstration in Dublin on Saturday 

People Before Profit’s Drogheda representative Michael Tuohy, is urging people to attend the Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) housing demonstration in Dublin at 1pm this Saturday, 5th July at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin 1. 

“Last week it was confirmed that homeless figures once again rose to record levels at the end of May, with 15,747 people, including 4,844 children, in emergency accommodation” Tuohy said. 

“Rents nationally recently surpassed an average of €2,000 per month for the first time. The average rent in Dublin is now €2,500 per month, but the changes to Rent pressure zones announced recently will enable landlords to drive rents even higher. 

“Landlords will be able to grab unlimited rent increases up to "market rates" on properties whenever the current tenant moves out. Many tenants move every year or two. They now face spiralling rents. 

“We are being asked to believe that up is down; that the way to reduce rents is to increase rents. Everyone knows this is nonsense. Only a government that is relentlessly focused on serving the needs of developers and landlords at the expense of ordinary people could push through these changes. The Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Lowry coalition is just such a government. 

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael lied through their teeth about expected new housing completions in 2024 during last year's election campaign to get themselves re-elected. They lied just to get back into power, so they have no legitimacy or mandate for their housing policies. 

“People are angry about being lied to about the ever-worsening housing crisis and are starting to mobilise on the street. The CATU protest on Saturday is an important part of this mobilisation and I urge people to join the protest at 1pm at the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin 1 to demand housing action now. 

“We need homes for need, not for greed.”