The National Economic and Social Council, the body which advises the Government on economic and social policy, has called for a significant increase in investment in social housing.
In a report on the housing market published today, it estimates that an additional 73,000 housing units will be needed over the next seven years to meet the need for social housing.
The NESC says this would need extra capital spending of up to €600m a year by the Government.
The report comes out against the abolition of stamp duties, saying it would be unwise to scrap such a significant source of revenue, but it calls on the Government to consider a separate tax on second homes.
The NESC also suggests schemes to support those who need help raising a deposit for a house. Possible ideas include tax relief on saving for a deposit or a loan from the State.
The report says mortgage interest tax relief should be retained, as should tax reliefs for landlords and tenants. The NESC also says property-linked tax reliefs such as Section 23 'continue to have a role'.
Describing the development of the housing market as 'dynamic but unbalanced', the council says a sharp fall in local authority building in the 1980s and 1990s has been a significant factor in increasing problems of affordability and access.
It says the private market for owner-occupied housing has not met the housing needs of many people, while rents in private accommodation have not been affordable for some households.
The NESC also expresses concerns about the sustainability of the housing system, saying patterns of settlement, design and density could be storing up 'significant social, environmental, budgetary and economic problems'.
It calls for better quality housing developments, long-range local and regional spatial strategies and a more efficient planning system.
The council also calls for further major transport investments in Dublin to be identified quickly, emphasising the importance of rail.
