These are the counties with the highest and lowest rates of vacant homes in Ireland

The latest Residential Buildings Report by GeoDirectory has indicated a 4.8% rise of vacant homes in Ireland since last year.

The report by the property data business revealed that the bulk of vacant homes available for potential upgrade and refurbishment to boost housing supply are located in the west of the country. In December of last year GeoDirectory recorded 83,662 residential properties as vacant, resulting in an average national vacancy rate of 4%. While the number of vacant homes across the country has risen, a breakdown by GeoDirectory identifies Leitrim (12.2%), Mayo (11.2%), Roscommon (10.7%) and Donegal (9.4%) as the counties with the highest rate of vacant homes. The lowest vacancy rates were recorded in Dublin (1.2%), Kildare (1.3%), Louth (2.3%) and Meath (2.4%). The figures do not include vacant and derelict commercial property, such as old shops and pubs or former offices, according to The Independent. Speaking to The Independent, Director of EY Economic Advisory Services Annette Hughes, said the 2022 residential vacancy rate was the lowest recorded by GeoDirectory to date. “However, this figure highlights a national imbalance of low vacancy rates and high demand in Dublin and surrounding counties, contrasted by considerably higher vacancy rates in the west of the country,” she said. "The report also highlights a growing affordability gap for rental properties in the country, with renters in our main cities paying well over 30pc of their gross income per month in rent,” she added.