Government blind to need for change – Ní Riada

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has called for urgent and major reform to public housing.

The Ireland South MEP was speaking from the Raise the Roof rally in Cork, where hundreds of people marched to demand the government address the housing crisis.

“The huge crowd that has turned out here despite the horrendous weather shows that the Government is, as usual, far behind the people on this issue,” she said.

“Everyone is aware we have a housing crisis and everyone knows what must be done to address it but this Government seems blind to that fact.

“Even the EU, just last week, released a report that recognised the rising levels of homelessness in Ireland and cited a lack of social housing as the main cause.

“We need real action on social housing to tackle this crisis. We need to see a proper rent cap put in place and an end to evictions.

“That is what must be done and that is what can be done but this Government lacks the political will to take decisive action.

“The message from Cork today is clear. We have had enough of people dying on our streets, we have had enough of children growing up in hotels, we have had enough of this Government’s head in the sand approach to an issue that is destroying lives.”