Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Young people cannot afford to buy and cannot afford to rent. The Government is forcing young people out of the housing market and out of the rental market. They are forced to live at home with parents or forced to emigrate. The Central Statistics Office told us in February that the average price of a house in Cork county was €304,000. The average price of a house in Cork city was €284,000. In fact, prices were up €22,000 a year in the city and €24,000 a year in the county. That is not much less than the wage of many young workers. Rents are averaging €1,700 a month in the city, or more than €20,000 a year, which again is not too much less than the average wage of many young workers.

The Government feels under pressure on the housing issue but not nearly as much as it should. This country needs a mass housing protest movement on the streets, like we had with the water charges. There are three Ministers from Cork at the Cabinet table. They need to feel far more pressure from the people of Cork on this issue. That is why I appeal to the people to come out onto the streets on Saturday, 10 June. That is the date for Cork's Raise the Roof housing protest. It is supported by unions, community organisations, anti-Government political parties and housing campaigners but most of all it needs to be supported by the people of Cork. I hope to see them on their streets in their thousands on that day.

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