Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 March 2026
327. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict residential properties recorded in Galway City and County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21118/26]
View answerWorking to end dereliction and vacancy is a key priority in the Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The Plan will ensure that the activities and resources used to address vacancy and dereliction are co-ordinated and that legislative powers are used proactively to work to bring dereliction and vacancy to an end.
Data in relation to vacant properties is available from a number of sources such as the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Census 2022 and GeoDirectory.
The CSO has recently developed a new statistical release on residential vacancy. The release, published on 24 September 2025, provides information on the extent of residential vacancy in 2022 and 2023, using ESB data on metered residential electricity consumption, with future regular publications planned.
In the release, the CSO notes a national vacancy rate of 3.3% at the end of Q4 2023, down from 3.6% in Q4 2022. Data is provided at a national, local authority and local electoral level, including for Galway.
In the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report for Q4 2025, the average vacancy rate across Ireland had dropped to 3.7%, the lowest rate recorded since 2013; a county breakdown is also provided.
My Department has also supported loc.al authorities to collate data on vacant and derelict properties in their administrative areas. Almost all local authorities, including Galway City Council and Galway County Council, now have a database of vacant properties which they can update on an ongoing basis. The database is not intended to be a comprehensive count of every vacant and derelict property in their administrative area. It is used by the local authority to engage with property owners and work with them to bring those properties back into use.
All 31 local authorities have a full-time Vacant Homes Officer (VHO) in place as a key point of contact in their Vacant Homes teams. Vacant Homes Officers are supported in their role by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department, the Housing Agency and through the Vacant Homes Officer Network.
I firmly believe the commitment Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction and the actions under Delivering Homes, Building Communities will play a vital role in delivering homes across the country.
