Homeless protestors storm Leinster House
A number of homeless people today stormed the gates of Leinster House, raced across the plinth and staged a sit-down protest at the front entrance.
The group, which numbered half a dozen, was attempting to deliver a petition with 20,000 signatures to the Taoiseach’s office.
Homeless action group Street Seen organised the event to call on the Government to donate the proceeds of a €100m property sale to homeless projects.
Campaigners today rushed through the security hut at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House and reached the main entrance before being stopped by security staff and gardaí.
The homeless people were later removed outside the main front gates by gardaí after a brief protest.
One protester, Dubliner John Saunders, 38 said afterwards: “We just wanted to make our point that we should be listened to in the same way as every other delegation that meets the Taoiseach.”
Street Seen wants the proceeds of today’s sale of the old UCD Veterinary School in Ballsbridge to be donated to the homeless.
“That money is desperately needed in the fight against homelessness. Homelessness is a social problem that requires a political solution, and most importantly the political will to implement the solution,” said spokesman Mark Grehan.
“To date the Government has not shown the political will. Handing over the proceeds of the sale would send a signal to the homeless community that the Government is finally beginning to seriously address this issue.”
Street Seen publishes a bi-monthly magazine which donates 60% of its €1 cover price to the homeless.
It began its current campaign after a number of homeless people died while sleeping rough in central Dublin.
It collected the 20,000 signatures on the streets of the capital in the past two months.
Mr Grehan said the idea to donate the proceeds of the property deal to the homeless originated in a Dublin City Council motion tabled by Sinn Féin’s Cllr Daithi Doolan.
