Revenue records 57,000 vacant homes as tax set to begin next year

Revenue data shows that 57,206 properties were vacant on November 1 — at odds with CSO data which recorded 166,000 empty properties on census night in April

Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe said: 'While overall vacancy levels may be low, we also know that there are clusters of vacancy in cities and in towns across all areas of the country.' Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

A tax on vacant homes will come into force next year, the Finance Minister has announced.

Paschal Donohoe said he would introduce the tax in this year's budget as it was revealed that Revenue data showed more than 57,000 vacant homes in Ireland.