Opposition councillors in Cork City Council unite behind Raise the Roof protest

Opposition councillors will a motion before Monday evening’s meeting of Cork City Council to endorse a housing protest next week.

The Cork Council of Trade Unions will, alongside opposition parties and community groups, hold a city centre ‘Raise the Roof’ rally on Saturday, June 21, to highlight the housing crisis across Cork city.

Speaking ahead of the motion, Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins said 99 council houses in Cork city have been vacant for longer than two years.

“Families are crying out for these homes. Enough is enough,” he said.

Labour Party councillor Ciara O’Connor said the emergency was affecting countless individuals and families.

“The mental health toll is severe, especially for children living in cramped, unstable conditions,” she said.

Solidarity councillor Brian McCarthy said real solutions were needed, including a permanent no-fault eviction ban, rent controls and a state construction company to build public homes on public land.

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said it was vital that people attended the rally.

“Be it defunding the tenant-in-situ scheme or resurrecting zombie planning permissions, this Government is going backwards in actually delivering housing,” he said.

Social Democrats councillor Niamh O’Connor said she was proud to the motion.

“It is vital that the parties of opposition speak with one voice on this issue and stand up for workers, for families and for everyone suffering because of decades of failed housing policy,” she said.