Housing protest to be held in Thurles this weekend

Thurles Sinn Féin is holding a demonstration next Saturday, March 18 at 1pm outside Tipperary County Council offices in Thurles.

Thurles Sinn Féin activist Michael Lange commented on government intentions to axe the eviction ban saying,

“The eviction ban needs to be extended immediately”.

He highlighted the fact that 117 notices to quit current accommodation were issued in County Tipperary between July and September last year.

A major wave of evictions is now probable following the government’s recent announcement.

Thurles Sinn Féin say they note that there are currently only 14 available houses for rent in the entirety of Tipperary.

Of those, only one currently in Thurles Town as of Daft.ie on Sunday , March 3, 2023.

Mr Lange has also questioned why there is currently no housing officer located in the local council offices in Thurles.

This is particularly in light of the oncoming wave of notices to quit and the volume of people that could find themselves in accommodation distress.

He continued by stating that the current housing crisis needs to be treated like the emergency that it is and that a major state investment package is required as a matter of urgency.

For short-term emergency measures to prevent imminent cases of homelessness.

And for medium-term and long-term to fix the chronic housing challenges right across the entirety of society.

Mr Lange concluded by inviting all those who are currently affected by the emergency and crisis in the housing sector, both by local and national factors, to come along next Saturday,

“Anyone who has had enough of the housing policy in this country, come along and make your voice heard, enough is enough is enough.

“As a society, we must stand against the mass of evictions that are imminent unless the powers that be immediately reverse their decision to take away what few protections people and families have left, “ said Mr Lange.