Market fears rise as one in six houses lie empty

OFFICIAL figures that show that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of unoccupied homes over the past five years are likely to raise further unease about house prices and activity in the construction industry.

Detailed results from the 2006 census on housing show 266,000 units — or about 15% of the total housing stock — were classified as vacant.

It means nearly a sixth of 1.46 million homes in the Republic are lying empty.