A report examining whether a vacant property tax could act as an incentive to bring unused properties back onto the market to address the housing crisis was laid before Dáil Éireann last month, and doesn’t support the introduction of a vacant property tax.

The report, proposed by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe as part of last year’s Budget measures, doesn’t support the introduction of a vacant property tax given the already declining numbers of vacant properties in Ireland.

Among the six recommendations, the report suggests that a different rate of capital gains tax could be applied on sales of long term vacant houses and an exemption from local property tax could be given to owners vacate a house due to illness and make property available for rent.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Minister Donohoe said “I will now examine the report and its recommendations, in conjunction with relevant Departments and will make my views known then.”