The main Opposition parties have criticised the Government over its proposed reform of the stamp duty regime, claiming it does not go far enough.
Fine Gael said the move does nothing for young families who need a larger home or retired people who want to trade down.
Responding to the publication of the Government's Bill to allow for the abolition of duty for first-time buyers, Dublin TD Alan Shatter described the reforms as a "totally inadequate response" to the need to reform the laws.
Mr Shatter said: "The Government has decided to retain the current stamp duty system for second time buyers, including the punitive rates that apply to anyone who wants to trade up or trade down."
"By doing so, it has kept in place a penal tax regime that unfairly impacts both on young families with children who need to acquire a larger home, and on retired persons who wish to move to a smaller home and retain a portion of their home sale monies for their future security," he said.
He also claimed the publication of the Bill confirmed that both the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats have, within a week of entering Government, "totally reneged on promises made by them to the electorate and betrayed those who voted for them."
Fine Gael's finance spokesman Richard Bruton described the move as half-baked and cynical. "This amendment is being introduced as a result of Fianna Fail's last-minute U-turn during the election campaign and is an extremely partial measure that does not meet the true need for reform," Mr Bruton said.
Labour finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said the Bill represented a "missed opportunity" to reform the laws in favour of families who needed to move homes as a result of change of circumstances.
Ms Burton said the decision to abolish duty for all first-time buyers, regardless of the value of the house, means that the benefit will be skewed in favour of the super rich.
"A wealthy businessman, who previously has been renting, but decides to buy a house for €3m will stand to save around €270,000, thanks to Fianna Fail. This is as much as the cost of some affordable houses," she said.
Sinn Fein described the Bill as "deeply flawed" and "ill- thought out". Louth TD Arthur Morgan said the changes would not result in housing being more affordable for first time buyers."
"The most likely effect of this proposal is an increase in house prices - this is what has happened when stamp duty for first time buyers was last reduced," he said.