Sinn Fein has proposed a series of measures to tackle the problems in the housing market in its pre-Budget submission.
The document, entitled Equality in a New Century, calls for increased capital taxation along with the introduction of rent controls and the imposition of limits on the price of agricultural land.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said the party's pre-Budget submission was aimed at spreading wealth across the economy.
Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain, the Sinn Fein TD for Cavan-Monaghan, said the party's proposals placed Sinn Fein further to the left than any other party in Dail Eireann.
The document proposes that there would be no further reductions in corporation tax. However, corporation tax would be increased for the profits generated by the retail banks and other finance houses. The money raised from this additional tax would go to community and local development projects.
Sinn Fein wants the level of capital taxation restored to its 1997 level of 40 per cent, with a 60 per cent level applying from April 2002, on what the party calls "speculative owners of multiple dwellings".
The pre-Budget submission argues that additional taxation on houses purchased for investment purposes would encourage those owning second properties to sell, thereby increasing housing supply and deflating house prices.
Sinn Fein wants a statutory ceiling placed on the price of land zoned for housing to prevent property speculation. The party favours the introduction of rent control measures.
The Green Party said yesterday that the Government should use the Budget to tackle social exclusion, and address the issues of homelessness, childcare, public transport and the Republic's energy use obligations under the international Kyoto protocol.
In its Budget proposals, the party argued that society had to be reshaped to obtain long-term benefit from the economic boom. The Greens said most of those on low salaries should be removed from the tax net. Personal allowances should be increased by £800, PAYE allowances increased by £500, and the standard tax band widened by £1,000.
The party also proposed a 10 per cent rate of tax on the first £1,000 earned above the standard rate, and separate increases in the PRSI allowances.
On social welfare, the party said it wanted a 10 per cent increase in payments, and a doubling of child benefit, which would then be subject to tax assessment.
"Minimum social welfare payments should be at least 50 per cent of average household income," said the party's Dail spokesman on finance, Mr Trevor Sargent.
The party said corporate profit tax should be increased gradually to 17.5 per cent, and there should be a special 5 per cent "social solidarity levy" on the profits of financial institutions.
The Greens called for an energy tax, and argued that motor tax should be abolished and replaced by a 20p increase in the price of a litre of motor fuel.
A new State agency should be established to solve the problem of homelessness, the party said.