Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

It must be heartbreaking for those on the housing waiting lists to daily pass boarded up homes or the many derelict, abandoned or underutilised private homes on their way to bringing their kids to school, day in, day out and year in, year out. It is scandalous in a housing crisis - an emergency - that all homes connected to sewers, water and electricity do not have families in them. The laughter of children should be heard in all homes - public or private - rather than the echo of emptiness. I firmly believe in the "use it or lose it" concept. It breaks my heart to see flat complexes in my own estate which have been long promised regeneration that are limping along. The regeneration of St. Michael's estate was promised nearly 25 years ago and it is only now that the hoarding is going up. St. Teresa's Gardens was knocked down ten years ago, but again the hoarding has only gone up recently. It is time to act. It is time to ensure that a housing emergency is declared and that this Government is got rid of. That is why I support the Raise the Roof campaign and I support those who are going to be here next Tuesday at 6 o'clock in their rally to demand action is taken and money is properly spent.

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