Fine Gael today pledged to abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers of property up to €450,000 in attempt to help more young people get on the property ladder.
Outlining his party's youth manifesto in Dublin today, deputy leader Richard Bruton said: "Thousands of young people are struggling to get on the property ladder due to the FF/PD Government's punitive stamp duty regime."
Mr Bruton said his party in government would abolish this tax for first time buyers of property up to €450,000.
"We'll make stamp duty fairer, ensuring that purchasers only pay the higher rate on the portion of the price over each threshold," he said.
The TD for Dublin North Central also highlighted what he said were the poor mental health services available to young people in Ireland which he claimed had been underfunded by the Government.
"We are losing too many of our young people to suicide and thousands are living with mental health problems with no access to the care that they need," he said.
Mr Bruton said his party would increase the budget of the National Suicide Prevention Office to €10 million in year one, rising to €20 million by year one, and pledged also work with schools to help young people in crisis.
He also said that it was of great concern top Fine Gael that a "barrier has been put in the way of young people voting in this election through the Taoiseach's insistence on a Thursday poll."
"No Fine Gael government will disenfranchise young people in this way. We will ensure weekend voting and automatic voter registration using the PPS system," he added.