28,500 retail units vacant in Ireland

The number of commercial units lying vacant across the country increased to just shy of 28,500 at the tail-end of 2014 despite the quickening pace of economic recovery.

The commercial vacancy rate increased to 12.8% in the last quarter of 2014 — up from 12.4% at the same stage in 2013 — with more than 900 fewer premises occupied as a result.

The deterioration in the market was spread across the country with the number of vacant properties increasing in all four provinces annually, the latest GeoDirectory survey shows.