Social activists will join trade unionists at the 2017 May Day March in Dublin which will focus on a call for Government action to solve the worsening housing crisis in Ireland. The march, that concludes at Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, will begin at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin, on Monday, 1st May, at 2.00 p.m. President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, Pat Bolger, said: “This year the Dublin Council of Trade Unions are joining forces with the National Homeless and Housing Coalition to celebrate May Day. The annual May Day march in Dublin marks both the social advances won by working people and calls for support for the struggles being waged today for a better society. Paramount among those struggles is the fight for decent housing for all. “The march will highlight the fact that housing is a right not a privilege and that public land should be used to build public housing and not for private profit.” SIPTU Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: “Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Simon Coveney, has promised there will be no families in emergency accommodation in hotels by July 2017. We intend to hold him to his word. So far, there are few signs that enough homes to house those currently in emergency accommodation in hotels will be available. “The current government proposals contained in its Rebuilding Ireland document are all about subsidising private landlords. This is wrong and instead we need a large-scale public housing programme, one that will provide enough homes for the 100,000 individuals and families on housing waiting lists.” Housing campaigner, Peter McVerry, said: “The Nevin Economic Research Institute has released detailed proposals for cost rental public housing. The Government needs to implement such a policy that would mean we can build mixed income public housing without private developers.” A press conference will be held in Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2, on Thursday (27th April) at 11.00 a.m. to officially launch the Dublin May Day March. Among those who will address the press conference are Peter McVerry, SIPTU National Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Karan O Loughlin and the Director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, Edel McGinley.
May Day march in Dublin to call for Government action on housing crisis
