Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The housing crisis in this State is nothing short of disastrous. The fact that we had thousands of people protesting outside the gates here today is proof. Today we have record numbers of children homeless in this State. We have record numbers of people in emergency accommodation. We have record numbers of people on housing waiting lists. In the past three years this Government has delivered zero affordable houses. The reality is that a new approach is needed to allow our young people, couples on modest incomes and single people to afford their own homes. This motion makes reference to older people. It is absolutely shocking that we are seeing many of our older citizens, people who worked hard all their lives, becoming homeless.

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We need to see a significant increase in social and affordable housing. We need to protect renters. This is one of the cornerstones in tackling this crisis. The pressure is building on this issue across Dublin city and the State. The proper response to it is to build more houses, protect renters, return vacant homes back into use and we need to declare a housing and homeless emergency. We need to hold a referendum to enshrine the right to housing in our Constitution.

The protest outside the gates of Leinster House today is only the start of many.

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