Kildare students stage walkout protest over Housing Crisis
Students in Kildare participated in yesterday’s (October 17) walkout protest as part of their ongoing struggle to “demand a future with affordable housing and a fair Ireland for young people”
Sinn Féin TD for Kildare North, Réada Cronin, has praised third-level students in Kildare for participating in yesterday’s (October 17) walkout protest as part of their ongoing struggle to “demand a future with affordable housing and a fair Ireland for young people.”
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) led the national protest, calling on the Minister for Public Expenditure to prioritise housing and education reform in the upcoming budget.
Teachta Cronin said: “I want to commend the thousands of students in Kildare and across Ireland who stood up yesterday to highlight the housing crisis. This is a crisis caused by years of neglect and inaction from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The simple fact is that Ireland’s young people are being priced out of their own country. They are forced to emigrate in search of a better future because they can’t afford to live, study, or work here.
“This government is dragging its heels while student rents and house prices continue to soar. They are letting down an entire generation. If they weren’t listening at the last protest two years ago, perhaps they’ll listen now to the chorus of young voices demanding change. Let’s be clear: housing is a fundamental right. It’s unacceptable that in a country as wealthy as Ireland, this government can’t get it right. They have record levels of corporation tax revenue, yet they won’t invest in the long-term solutions needed for housing or education."
“We need to reduce pupil-teacher ratios, update our third-level facilities, and ensure that every young person has a fair chance to build their life here. This government has opted for Tory-style policies—offering one-off payments and token gestures before elections instead of addressing the root causes of the housing crisis.
“A Sinn Féin government would make tackling the housing crisis its top priority. We need real investment in public housing and education, not just empty promises. Young people deserve better, and Sinn Féin is ready to deliver that change.”