Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney has said that housing remains the Government's number one priority.
Mr Coveney said that those most exposed, in relation to the house purchase market, are first-time buyers and the majority of those in cities like Cork and Dublin are being locked out of the market.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Mr Coveney said he believed there would be specific supports for first-time buyers in next month's budget.
Mr Coveney suggested the support would be along the lines of a first-time buyer’s grant, through a tax rebate system, but that the extent of it is still being finalised.
"The majority of those, particularly in Dublin and Cork where there is huge demand, are simply being locked out of the market," said Mr Coveney. "There aren't houses being built for them and there aren't houses being built at a price they can afford.
"So we need to change that. I think there'll be specific supports for first-time buyers in the budget and I think that's needed.
"The mechanism for doing that is still being finalised. I think it'll be something along the lines of a first-time buyers grant, effectively through the tax system."
He said that there are currently 200,000 vacant properties nationwide, with thousands of them in areas where there is demand for homes.
The minister said that a pilot project for local authorities and housing bodies is being put in place that will allow them to offer people who own vacant properties up to five years rent upfront.
This would, he said, enable them to refurbish the houses and get them "rent ready".
Renters warned over email scam
Meanwhile, Dublin City Council has issued a warning over an email scam, which is targeted at people looking for private rental accommodation in the capital.
The council said it is aware of three incidents where people living abroad and looking to rent property in Dublin have been targeted.
Prospective renters are being asked to provide a down payment of a sum of money to the council to secure a property in a email using a bogus name 'Alfred Marshall' from the 'Notarization and Endorsement Section' and a bogus email address.
The email claims that private lettings are contingent on a "rubber-stamping" by the council.
In a statement, the council said it has "no involvement whatsoever in private lettings".
It said is is aware of one person who was scammed out of €1,140, which they believed to be a security deposit.
It said two other people who received an email looking for money had contacted DCC before any funds were transferred and were told the email was false.
The council said gardaí are also investigating the matter.
