Public meeting debates housing crisis ahead of election in Galway
A broad coalition of trade unions and community groups has announced an emergency public meeting in Galway to highlight the worsening housing crisis and demand that it becomes a defining issue in May's bye-election.
The meeting, organised by the Galway Council of Trade Unions, will bring together workers, students, and community representatives to discuss the impact of the housing crisis and address rising rents, lack of supply, and growing housing insecurity. It will take place at 7pm on Thursday, April 16 in the Druid Theatre, Galway.
The panel includes Michael Taft of SIPTU, Sean de Burca of the University of Galway Students Union, a spokesperson for Community Action Tenants Union (CATU), and the Galway Traveller Movement.
The Chair for the event is Eoghan Fox, President of the Galway Council of Trade Unions.
“This is an important meeting, and we will hear from some of the communities affected by the housing emergency. Whether you're back living in your parents’ house, couch surfing, scrolling through Daft trying to find a place to live, paying more rent than a mortgage repayment would cost, but still can't secure one,” Mr Fox said.
The groups pointed to recent figures which underline the scale of the problem, including rising rents.
This is an important meeting, and we will hear from some of the communities affected by the housing emergency
By the end of 2025, average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Galway City was €2,113, an increase of 8.4% from the previous year.
By the same yardstick, a three-bedroom house in Galway County averaged €1,729 per month.
They also pointed to student housing, which is also under strain according to a survey by the University of Galway Students’ Union which found that 80% of respondents struggled to secure accommodation for the last academic year.
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