The Social Democrats are calling on the Government to increase the vacant home tax to 10 percent.

The party has described the current rate of point three percent as "a pantomime of action" that will do little to actually incentivise property owners to bring their vacant homes back into use.

GeoDirectory figures estimate about 83 thousand properties are lying vacant, while over 21 thousand are derelict.

The Social Democrat's Housing Spokesperson, Cian O'Callaghan, proposed the motion in the Dail earlier...