Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is quite a large amount of vacant property. We must take action to bring these properties into use and if necessary use the taxation system in the upcoming budget, and make it difficult for people to leave property vacant. I am a little concerned that while it complains night and day about the issue of housing, Sinn Féin proposed to one local authority in Cork that property tax be reduced by 15%. The latter would give rise to a reduction in income of €1.69 million. Property tax generates funding and it is a disincentive to leaving properties vacant. If property tax is reduced, that encourages people to leave properties vacant. I am somewhat surprised that, on the one hand, Sinn Féin wants more action taken in respect of housing but, on the other - and by means of taxation reductions - it would encourage owners to leave properties vacant for longer periods. The party needs to clarify this. It is unfortunate that when there has been a real increase in income in this country, it is talking about reducing property tax when in real terms it is beneficial to local councils and the services they provide. If €1.69 million is coming out of the income, that affects the provision of services. The party might keep that in mind on the next occasion when its members at local authority level start proposing decreases in property tax.