At least 60 thousand new homes could be built on land already owned by the state.
The finding is contained in a new report from the Land Development Agency to be published this morning.
The LDA has identified land in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford that could provide for around 60 thousand new 'affordable homes'.
Five regional centres are also recommended for development in Sligo, Letterkenny, Dundalk, Drogheda and Athlone.
However, it says there are still obstacles to unlocking state land for housing.
Meanwhile, cabinet ministers will today agree to oppose a Sinn Féin bill looking to extend the evictions ban, which will be voted on in the Dáil tomorrow.
The government will also agree a counter-motion to the Labour confidence vote in the coalition tomorrow morning.
