Cork Raise the Roof protest will ask government to address housing in Budget'26

A major march through Cork, just about to begin in the city centre, will call on Government to address housing in Budget 2026 on Tuesday.

The Raise the Roof campaign group, comprising trade unions, political parties, and civil society groups, will say that the Government must prioritise funding for housing in the Budget, alongside real commitment for the State to step up and take more effective measures in tackling the current crisis.

Paul Gavan, campaigns and advocacy officer at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, will address the gathering and say that, for more than a decade now, the housing crisis has had a devastating effect on workers and their families.

“Without the kind of radical reset that was called for by the Housing Commission, Ireland risks a second decade of high rents, unaffordable homes, and record levels of homelessness. 

"Next week’s Budget must mark a new departure for the Government in tackling the housing crisis.” UCC Students’ Union president, Alex Angland, will comment on the lack of affordable student accommodation, which, he says, is the biggest challenge facing students in Cork city.

“Cork is trailing behind other cities in its provision of publicly owned accommodation. UCC has the lowest number of beds per student in the university sector, only 1,500 beds for its 26,000 students. 

"In the private market, students commonly face rents of up to €14,000 for the academic year. 

"The government needs to invest in student accommodation in this budget or risk pricing students out of their degrees.” Adrian Kane of Siptu will address the protestors, saying that the housing crisis is “being exploited by the far right” and that the Government must prioritise housing over everything else in the coming budget.

“There is nothing natural about the current crisis and it can be resolved through effective state action.”