Protesters in Dublin demand action on housing and cost of living

Hundreds of people have marched through Dublin city centre to call for Government action on housing, the cost of living and workers’ wages.

Many at the protest called for wages to be increased and for a rent cap or freeze to be introduced.

A large cohort of third-level students attended the demonstration, including around 30 students from University of Limerick who got a bus up to the capital to take part in the protest.

The pre-Budget protest, organised by the Cost of Living Coalition, marched from Parnell Square to Leinster House, where speakers addressed the crowd.

Those who took part chanted “Out, Out Out” to the names of party leaders and called for a rent freeze.

“The students are definitely rising,” People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett told the crowd as it gathered to hear speeches in front of the gates of Leinster House.

The coalition is made up of various representative groups such as the Union of Students in Ireland, the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, Inclusion Ireland and Extinction Rebellion.

It also includes opposition parties People Before Profit, the Social Democrats and Sinn Fein, as well as some independent TDs.

The coalition has called for a 25 euro increase in pension, social welfare and disability payments in Budget 2024.

It has also called for a rent freeze, the eviction ban to be reintroduced, and the abolition of student fees.

There is also a general opposition to one-off budgetary measures, which last year included lump sum welfare payments and three 200-euro electricity credits.

The Government announced a second package of one-off measures worth 1.3 billion euro in February, which was more targeted than the 4.1 billion cost-of-living package accompanying Budget 2023 last year.

Budget 2024 is to be announced on Tuesday, worth 6.4 billion euro, with the details expected to be finalised by ministers and party leaders this weekend.

Recent figures show that inflation in Ireland has not fallen to the levels forecast at the start of the year.

The Consumer Price Index rose by 6.3% in the 12 months to August this year, up from 5.8% in the 12 months to July.