A major national campaign has been announced which will focus on securing a significant programme of public housing construction, action on rents and tenant security and the creation of a new, legal Right to Housing.

The Raise the Roof campaign will include a major conference on housing, a national petition to build public support for a legal Right to Housing, a series of regional rallies and lobbying of local authorities on delivery of public housing, along with the holding of a national demonstration later in 2019.

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Sheila Nunan, President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said: "This week marks the centenary of the First Dail and the Democratic Programme, which demanded that private property rights be 'subordinated' to wider public welfare. Today's housing emergency graphically illustrates the failure to do so.

"Last October, with support from Raise the Roof in the form of a major rally, the Dail overwhelmingly passed an opposition motion demanding action of evictions and rents, increased investment in public housing and the creation of a legal Right to Housing. That motion also remains unrealised and we are now calling for its full implementation. Our campaign for 2019 is focused on delivering these measures and ensuring that citizens secure a Right to Housing."

The housing conference will take place on Wednesday 30 January in Dublin and will feature a range of expert speakers outlining the need to deliver a significant programme of public housing and establish a legal Right to Housing.

(CM/JG)