Almost 7,500 empty and derelict properties – as thousands wait for home

The number of vacant and derelict properties across the city and county stands at almost 7,500 – at a time when demand for houses is at an all-time high.

This was revealed in a report presented to Galway County Council at its monthly meeting, leading to calls from Councillors for the local authority to place sanctions on the owners of these empty properties.

The figures were revealed by Cllr David Collins (FG) who is also a member of the North West Regional Assembly – the body compiled the statistics which also found that there was an increasing amount of commercial units lying idle.

The Turloughmore-based councillor said that he was taken aback by the number of vacant houses there were in some of the larger towns – Tuam (150), Portumna (124), Loughrea (115), Ballinasloe (103) and Gort (79).

And while these vacancy and dereliction figures represent an eight per cent drop on 2015 levels, the number of vacant commercial properties alone across the city and county is up by a whopping 12% on the 2015 figures – an indication of how many businesses have gone to the wall.

Director of Housing Liam Hanrahan told the meeting that there was a Vacant House Officer in place for several years and noted that the number of unoccupied houses in the county had decreased over the years.

He also said that a Town Centre Officer had also been appointed with a view to having vacant premises occupied in villages where there was a considerable amount of dereliction.

Cllr Andrew Reddington (FG) highlighted the high vacancy rate in Headford and described the situation as being very frustrating.

He said that many of the owners were in a financial position that they had no need to sell – and he believed that there should be some sanctions. “They are bringing down the tone of the town,” he added.

According to Cllr Jimmy McClearn (FG) the majority of vacant properties were either owned by speculators or financial institutions and he was also in favour of a levy.

The Portumna councillor said that this needed action rather than talk if the owners were to take any notice.

“If we don’t punish them for holding onto to vacant properties, then we are going nowhere,” he added.

Fianna Fail’s Cllr Michael Connolly said that it was a disgrace that small villages were left with so many vacant properties and particularly as many of these areas were serviced by high-speed broadband.

He also wanted levies to be imposed or the Council to move on some of these properties – many of which, he believed, needed to be demolished.