Sinn Féin has described the Local Property Tax (LPT) Amendment Bill as a "cynical" piece of legislation.

Junior Finance Spokesperson Peadar Tóibín said there is no correlation between family wealth and the value of a home.

He also called for areas affected by the recent flooding to be exempt from LPT.

He said: "Given the upward trend in property prices, the LPT on a family homes looks set to increase by as much as €189. While Sinn Fein representatives have used their position on local authorities to lessen this burden as much as they can, the Labour Party have been more than happy to row in behind Fine Gael and see this unfair, regressive charge mount on homes, many of which are still in negative equity.

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"The Government is seeking a limited narrow space to allow the granting of exemption to the LPT. Given so many families throughout the country are in crisis. Given the fact that many of them will not have the use of their home or property at all over the Christmas, the Government needs to exempt those affected by the floods."

(CD/LM)