If Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have been in Government too long churning out housing policy that has contributed to the housing crisis worsening in real terms for so many - too few homes, steeper rents, higher prices, and ever-increasing homelessness - then Opposition politicians have been too long making the same arguments in the same way.
Party leaders and housing spokespeople railing against the Government from their seats in the Dáil, pointing out the failures is important. They are representing their voters by doing so. It is strategic in that it presents the housing crisis of the dominant issue for voters, which it is. But it is not effective. As 2026 approaches, the Opposition needs a new approach. This means organising in a different way.
One of the issues with how the Opposition articulates its grievances regarding housing is that this primarily occurs in the contexts of the Oireachtas and in media. How they present the topic across social media tends to mostly be repeating footage or clips from those arenas.
This does not change anything, beyond demonstrate to voters that these parties are appalled by the housing crisis, by Government housing policy. A connection with the electorate is generated on that basis, but what happens after? Is anything, beyond speechifying?
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At constituency level, of course politicians attempt to assist people with their housing needs where they can. But that happens on an individual basis. What they need is something on a collective basis.
Obviously, the Government is in control of housing policy, and is responsible for the crisis. But the Opposition represents a huge cohort of voters who want action. If the Opposition is limited in acting in parliament, then they need to act elsewhere. This means organising a movement.
That movement should have clear demands; build on successful frameworks of grassroots organising; have a vibrant identity in terms of its branding; have a smart digital strategy and go to where people are instead of waiting for people to come to it. And it should empower younger people to lead within it.
One of the big strategic mistakes being made in real time right now is considering a united left as a sporadic electoral machine. What the united left actually needs to build is a robust united movement. A large-scale housing movement would be a winning movement because all successful movements are broad, diverse and porous. This would then generate electoral success for those involved.
It’s sadly obvious why, on the biggest issue of the day, a large, consistent protest movement hasn’t coalesced, even though there are occasional smatterings of protest. The response to the crisis at a grassroots level has internalised the crisis as overwhelming.
There is a listlessness that comes with hopelessness. There’s only so much grimness people can cope with regarding the housing crisis. It feels unending. Each forecast only compounds the sense that the light at the end of the tunnel is dim and distant.
Frustration and despondency are demotivating.
People are not apathetic; they’re defeated.
This sense of defeat serves the Government very well. The last thing they want is people motivated enough to protest their failures on housing. They do not want energetic housing protests to spread around the country and grow at scale, because they cannot defend their record or make any coherent or believable argument that they - who caused the crisis - are best equipped to solve their housing disaster. Even those utterly unaffected by the emergency know that.
It’s not only up to Opposition parties to offer motivation. There’s a reason grassroots movements in this country tend to happen away from party politics. But it’s clear that the energy and capacity isn’t there on the ground right now for ordinary people to volunteer their time and put the hard yards in at scale. This is understandable. Some groups are doing as much as they can, across small protests, and include entities such as CATU, the tenant’s union.
[ It was like watching the housing crisis covered by a future Reeling in the YearsOpens in new window ]
What is needed is a catalyst moment to shake people out of the sense that this is an insurmountable problem.
But what can happen in the meantime is organising.
Protest is not just an expression, it’s an engine. It generates energy and momentum. It builds coalition and solidarity. It creates a sense and reality of action and participation. It’s somewhere people can put their frustration and feel some sort of purpose and sense of control when their autonomy and belief in their future has been dulled.
There is no issue in this country that effects as many people in such a tangible way as housing. This is why a housing movement with grassroots networks and the organisational and practical support of Opposition parties could be effective.
