My question is for the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. There are strong reasons for reactivating our large vacant housing stock. There is, of course, housing need, as well as environmental reasons and revitalising towns and villages. My colleague Deputy Matthews, Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, today launched a report that recommends a vacant homes tax. Media reports in recent days suggest such a tax is on the cards for the next budget. I ask the Minister to outline to the House his views on the benefits of a vacant homes tax and if he would support it.

I thank the Deputy. I look forward to reading the report from Deputy Matthews and other colleagues on the housing committee. We will be moving forward with the Croí Cónaithe towns and villages fund. We have identified it as a pathway to housing and to tackling vacancy. All three parties in government are serious about doing so.

As regards work on a vacant property tax, data from the local property tax is being collated in the Department of Finance. It and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, in conjunction with me, will assess those data in the coming weeks. We have clearly set out an objective within Housing for All that we will move on a vacant property tax. It is not the silver bullet. It is one of several measures we can take. Work is not yet finalised. The Chief Whip made the point earlier that the report of the joint committee would be a good one for the House to debate. I look forward to reading it. I will keep the Deputy appraised.