Galway remains one of the worst-hit counties in Ireland’s housing market, with stubbornly high vacancy levels, derelict properties concentrated across the county, and property prices showing no signs of easing.
The latest GeoDirectory Q2 2025 Residential Buildings Report places Galway third in the state for dereliction, accounting for 8.9 per cent of the national total. Only Mayo (14.1 per cent ) and Donegal (11.5 per cent ) recorded higher levels. Nationally, 19,821 homes were classified as derelict in June 2025, a 2.9 per cent drop on the previous year, yet Galway’s share crept up by 0.1 per cent since December 2024.
The west coast remains the hardest-hit region, with Connacht alone accounting for 38.2 per cent of all derelict homes.
Vacancy rates tell a similar story. Galway’s vacancy rate now stands at 5.4 per cent, well above the national average of 3.7 per cent. The county’s vacancy ratio has fluctuated over the past year, reaching 5.5 per cent in June 2024, dipping to 5.3 per cent in December, and rising again in 2025.
By comparison, Dublin records just 1.1 per cent vacancy, while Kildare stands at 1.6 per cent. The highest vacancy levels are clustered in the west and northwest, led by Leitrim (11.9 per cent ), Mayo (10.6 per cent ), Roscommon (10.1 per cent ) and Donegal (9 per cent ).
Repurposing vacant commercial properties
Amid this picture of shortage and dereliction, the Department of Housing says that efforts are underway to repurpose unused commercial buildings. New figures from the Department of Housing show that between 2018 and 2024, Galway City and County Councils received 42 notifications to convert vacant commercial units into homes, a number that the department says has the potential to deliver 128 residential properties.
Since planning exemptions were introduced in 2018, developers have been able to transform certain commercial buildings into residential use without applying for full planning permission. The scheme was expanded in 2022 to include vacant pubs. In Galway, seven such notifications have been received for vacant pubs, paving the way for 17 new homes.
Nationally, 1,457 notifications have been submitted since 2018, with the potential to create 3,429 homes. Former shops accounted for the largest share (31 per cent ), followed by offices (23 per cent ), pubs (14 per cent ) and services (13 per cent ).
Housing Minister James Browne said the exemptions have been “very effective” in turning empty premises into homes.
“There is no question that repurposing vacant and derelict properties contributes positively to housing supply and has a transformative visual and vibrancy impact on our cities, towns and villages.”
