Report estimates there are almost 250,000 vacant properties.

Chairman of the Housing Agency Conor Skehan has said more needs to be done to solve the housing crisis than just building new homes.

It comes after a new report from the agency estimates that there are almost 250,000 empty houses across the country.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Skehan said this is an opportunity for everyone as it translates to around two years supply of housing that could be used.

Mr Skehan said there are a range of solutions that the Government could use to incentivise owners of vacant homes to open them up.

He said refurbishment grants for vacant homes or short-term taxation breaks on rental income when someone puts a vacant property into use could be launched.

Other countries penalised those who had long-term vacant properties but the housing agencies would prefer to use "carrots", Mr Skehan said.

"Countries like Scotland, England and France actually penalise long-term vacancies - once your house is vacant for more than a year in an area of high population density you would start to pay dramatically increased tax every year."

He added that bringing property back into use is "the real trick".

Source: RTE 23/005/2016