A motion to increase the vacant property tax has been described as an "insanity of the worst type" by Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae.
The Social Democrats are calling for the tax to be increased from 0.3 percent of the property's market value to 10 percent, in a bid to make more homes available to the market.
According to figures from Geo Directory, 83 thousand properties are lying vacant in Ireland, while over 21 thousand are derelict.
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These figures are disputed by other state bodies, and there is no definitive register or log of vacant or derelict properties in Ireland.
Speaking in the Dail today, Deputy Healy-Rae said raising the tax is an attack on homeowners:
