Oireachtas housing committee will today formally call for a vacant property tax

14 TDs and senators will today recommend a new tax be introduced for vacant properties.

It's contained in a new report that'll be launched this afternoon.

The Oireachtas housing committee feels it would bring tens of thousands of empty homes back into use.

Sinn Féin's housing spokesman, Eoin Ó Broin, is on the committee - he says the new tax is necessary: