Majority favour taxing 198,000 empty houses, says survey - €54m could be raised in Dublin alone

The majority of people now favour taxing the 198,000 houses lying empty across the country, a survey has found.

Up to €54m could be raised from a vacant homes tax in Dublin alone if the model already used in Vancouver, Canada, is adopted. That much money could renovate more than 1,300 houses a year, according to the Peter McVerry Trust.

Research conducted by the homeless and housing charity, shows that 62% of people are in favour of a tax on vacant homes.