Fine Gael has proposed the effective abolition of stamp duty for first-time buyers along with increases in the standard-rate tax band for families.
In its pre-election tax plan published today, the party proposes a €5,000 increase in the standard rate tax band for families, which it said would benefit 400,000 families in total, including 92,000 single-income families.
The party also proposed a €1,000 increase in the tax credit for people working in the home caring for elderly relatives or children.
Its stamp duty plans include raising the exemption limit for first-time buyers of second-hand homes to €450,000. It would also reduce the number of different stamp duty rates from seven to three - 0 per cent, 5 per cent and 9 per cent.
The first €100,000 would be zero-rated, the next €350,000 paid at 5 per cent and the balance at 9 per cent.
Under the Fine Gael proposal, the higher rates would only apply on the value of the home over and above the relevant threshold, and not to the entire purchase price.
Speaking at a party meeting in Limerick, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said "re-balancing" taxation policy in favour of families and young people would be the top priority for a Government he would lead.
"The outgoing Government keeps talking about first-time house buyers - well my Government will act. Fine Gael will cut stamp duty which has become a crippling burden on first-time buyers and on growing families who want to trade up," Mr Kenny said.
"I have no interest in leading a Government that operates a tax regime that prevents new families from buying homes in established residential areas close to existing schools and amenities.
"I will not tolerate a taxation regime that discourages older people from trading down and so freeing up housing stock which growing families need or which forces young people starting out in life into poorly planned new estates which are deficient in amenities."
Progressive Democrats senator John Minihan said Fine Gael's stamp duty proposals were "a belated and limp effort".
He said Fine Gael had "copied" the PD idea of banding stamp duty rates, but had "balked at completely abolishing the tax for first-time buyers by setting an exemption limit of €450,000".
"Our party sparked a nationwide debate on stamp duty following our think-in in Malahide, when we promised to tackle this issue on behalf of homebuyers," he said.
He said Enda Kenny and Richard Bruton of Fine Gael, as well as Labour's Pat Rabbitte and Ruairi Quinn, were all at the cabinet table when the current "very unfair" system of stamp duty was increased.