Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I did not ask the Minister about local authority voids. That is something entirely different. I asked him about the vacant homes tax and the fact that tens of thousands of homes are lying idle at the moment.

They are the most effective way to increase the stock of houses available to our young people, many of whom currently have no choice but to go abroad. Two out of three nurses are planning on emigrating and 61% of our primary schools are understaffed. This is down to the high cost of housing. I asked the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, on what basis he thinks a person who can continue to sit on a vacant property and benefit to the tune of €40,000 next year would be influenced to bring that home into use and make it available as a result of a tax of €1,200. It does not make any sense whatsoever. When I queried the Minister on this all he could say was it is three times the property tax rate.

See this speech in context