A group of advocates are taking to the streets to “mobilise direct actions”.
A network of 18 grassroots groups involved in the recent occupation of two properties in Dublin city centre has revealed that they plan to occupy a third residence.
Take Back the City (TBTC), the group behind the occupation of both 35 Summerhill Parade and 34 North Frederick Street will take to the GPO on Saturday evening to announce their third takeover of an unoccupied space – which, they claim, could be used to house those without homes – in Dublin.
“This is an expansion rather than a move from one property to another, as activists are continuing to occupy 34 North Frederick Street – despite the high court injunction issued against them,” the group states.
“This property will remain occupied until the collective demand of TBTC is met, that is, that the building be Compulsory Purchase Ordered by Dublin City Council and given to the community.”
The third property being occupied by the group will be revealed during a rally to be held at 17.30 on Saturday evening outside the GPO. Activists, supporters and members of the community will assemble there before marching to the new, yet to be disclosed, location.
The group recently demanded that Dublin City Council place a compulsory purchase order on a property which had stood empty for three years so it can be returned to the community for use as permanent public housing or as a community resource.
The property’s owner stated that he intended to develop it as a guest house.
“Property hoarding in any context is completely unacceptable,” the group claims in a recent press release, “but in the midst of an unprecedented crisis in housing, it is downright tasteless.”
“Whether it’s serial offenders such as the McGreal family, who own 34 North Frederick Street, or those whose political leanings should surely prevent them from ever indulging in such crass behaviour – our message is unambiguous: slum landlords and land hoarders have had it too good for too long. We are coming for you.”
TBTC also criticised Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy’s role in the worsening housing crisis.
Speaking to JOE, a spokesperson for the group confirmed that Minister Murphy has not been in contact with the growing group since he failed to meet with the team over two weeks ago, something that was organised by senior officials.
“We sent a letter to Eoghan Murphy outlining a list of demands, one of which was to meet with a representative of all the groups within the TBTC movement. At the moment we’re made up of 18 groups, but at that point, it was seven.
“We got verbal confirmation from a senior official in his department confirming that he would contact us by that Friday of that week to confirm a date and time to meet us.
“Ultimately that meeting never happened due to a number of terms being changed.”
The spokesperson also confirmed that Murphy had been out of the country during that time.
“Minister Murphy’s incompetence and sheer indifference to this crisis is no secret, but in a political culture where 20% of elected TDs are landlords, we have to ask: how are the decisions they make representative of their communities?” the group’s press release reads.
“In the absence of political will, communities and activist groups have and will continue to mobilise direct actions.”
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