Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Sustainability

CSO SDGs banner with SDG indicator icons 11, 12, 13 & 15

Table 6.1 Housing stock and vacancy rates by county, 20161
%
CountyTotal housing stockOccupiedVacancy rate
Border193,642149,85222.6
Cavan33,58527,71017.5
Donegal83,93160,93927.4
Leitrim18,05112,82529.0
Monaghan25,31122,18512.4
Sligo32,76426,19320.1
Midland119,015105,86011.1
Laois32,79429,6349.6
Longford18,59115,48916.7
Offaly30,74027,8569.4
Westmeath36,89032,88110.9
West209,260170,65418.4
Galway City33,84730,6819.4
Galway County78,20764,76717.2
Mayo65,92150,46923.4
Roscommon31,28524,73720.9
Dublin530,753497,7566.2
Dublin City240,553221,1078.1
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown86,96282,1745.5
Fingal104,85199,6185.0
South Dublin98,38794,8573.6
Mid-East257,192238,4387.3
Kildare80,15875,4465.9
Louth51,39946,6869.2
Meath70,64965,7746.9
Wicklow54,98650,5328.1
Mid-West206,997179,38613.3
Clare55,77944,85419.6
Limerick82,11273,92810.0
Tipperary69,10660,60412.3
South-East183,197157,60614.0
Carlow23,27421,1129.3
Kilkenny39,22635,6809.0
Waterford52,49145,15514.0
Wexford68,20655,65918.4
South-West303,589258,63314.8
Cork City55,76051,3987.8
Cork County173,735150,88813.2
Kerry74,09456,34724.0
State2,003,6451,758,18512.3
Source: CSO Census of Population
1 The vacancy rate is the number of vacant houses, apartments and holiday homes divided by the total number. See Appendix 1 for definitions.
  • About one in eight (12.3%) dwellings in Ireland was vacant in 2016.
  • The Border (22.6%) and the West (18.4%) had the highest vacancy rates while Dublin (6.2%) and the Mid-East (7.3%) had the lowest.
  •  Leitrim (29%), Donegal (27.4%) and Kerry (24%) had the highest vacancy rates in 2016 at county level. The lowest rates were in all in the Dublin region with South Dublin at 3.6%, Fingal at 5% and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown at 5.5%.
Table 6.2 Dwellings by construction period and region, 2016
% of rowdwelling units
RegionPre-19611961 to 19801981 to 19901991 to 20002001 to 20102011 or laterTotal
Border21.717.111.715.132.32.2136,892
Midland22.417.29.814.833.82.196,977
West20.517.712.116.630.92.2155,148
Dublin27.625.610.613.420.82.0433,909
Mid-East17.320.510.518.131.22.4218,793
Mid-West25.520.711.015.225.81.9163,169
South-East23.617.710.416.030.22.1144,725
South-West25.820.010.714.726.72.2233,930
State23.820.810.815.227.32.11,583,543
Source: CSO Census of Population
1 Private dwellings in permanent housing units. Excludes not stated.
  • About three out of every ten dwellings (29.4%) in Ireland in 2016 was built since 2001, with 27.3% of these built between 2001 and 2010. Nationally just 2.1% of dwellings were built since 2011.
  • Close to a third of all dwellings in the Midland and Border regions were built in the period 2001-2010 while at the other end of the scale in Dublin only 20.8% of dwellings were built in this period.
  • Dublin has the highest proportion of older houses. Pre-1961 dwellings accounted for 27.6% of the dwellings in Dublin compared to 17.3% in the Mid-East and 20.5% in the West.
€99
Average weekly rent in Leitrim
Table 6.3 Average weekly rent in private rented households by county, 20161
number
Region and countyRented from private landlordAverage weekly rent
Border19,652110
Cavan4,049107
Donegal7,131104
Leitrim1,71299
Monaghan2,934118
Sligo3,826125
Midland15,571127
Laois3,857134
Longford2,507101
Offaly3,572127
Westmeath5,635134
West28,147153
Galway City9,793206
Galway County8,328136
Mayo6,934117
Roscommon3,092110
Dublin110,265279
Dublin City60,739276
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown15,380335
Fingal19,722261
South Dublin14,424259
Mid-East34,663192
Kildare12,140208
Louth6,631158
Meath8,969182
Wicklow6,923207
Mid-West25,998138
Clare6,111128
Limerick12,331152
Tipperary7,556124
South-East21,592135
Carlow2,982141
Kilkenny4,612145
Waterford6,337132
Wexford7,661130
South-West42,363171
Cork City12,440207
Cork County22,345166
Kerry7,578126
State298,251200
Source: CSO Census of Population
1 The 11,477 households where the rent was not stated were excluded in this table.
  • The average weekly rent was €200 for households in private rented accommodation, according to the 2016 Census of Population.
  • The highest average weekly rent by region was in Dublin at €279, while the lowest weekly rents were in the Border at €110 and the Midlands at €127.
  • At county level the four highest average weekly rents were all in in Dublin: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown €335, Dublin City €276, Fingal €261 and South Dublin €259.
  • Only eight counties had average weekly rents above €200 - the four counties in Dublin, the cities of Cork and Galway and counties Kildare and Wicklow.
  • Leitrim (€99) and Longford (€101) had the lowest average weekly rents.
Table 6.4 Type of accommodation by county, 20161
     % of row'000
Region and countyDetached houseSemi-detached houseTerraced houseFlat, apartment, bedsitOther/not statedTotal
Border65.620.48.14.31.6144,376
Cavan66.120.47.74.21.626,899
Donegal68.120.06.63.61.658,505
Leitrim72.815.95.93.91.512,452
Monaghan63.919.410.54.31.921,689
Sligo57.324.210.96.31.324,831
Midland55.826.910.05.51.9103,385
Laois54.829.59.24.42.029,107
Longford63.120.710.14.21.915,122
Offaly57.426.710.13.62.127,343
Westmeath51.827.610.58.51.631,813
West64.319.87.27.21.6164,811
Galway City20.437.116.523.92.228,859
Galway County76.513.84.33.91.663,040
Mayo69.618.27.04.01.248,899
Roscommon74.217.84.02.51.524,013
Dublin11.534.826.825.41.5479,683
Dublin City4.923.135.235.21.7211,747
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown21.239.116.922.00.778,601
Fingal19.042.419.317.61.696,812
South Dublin10.550.124.013.81.692,523
Mid-East44.731.813.88.21.5232,489
Kildare40.537.711.19.51.245,448
Louth40.729.521.96.31.773,596
Meath52.228.79.67.71.764,234
Wicklow44.929.115.88.61.549,211
Mid-West53.024.913.76.71.6173,969
Clare59.122.511.55.41.543,469
Limerick45.227.715.510.01.671,224
Tipperary58.023.413.33.61.759,276
South-East54.124.814.25.31.7153,230
Carlow50.928.412.75.72.420,537
Kilkenny58.722.213.34.51.334,855
Waterford43.129.818.76.91.643,549
Wexford61.021.111.84.31.754,289
South-West49.023.917.78.01.4250,346
Cork City11.130.637.019.61.649,411
Cork County55.623.514.45.21.3146,442
Kerry65.518.89.34.81.754,493
Total42.027.716.712.01.61,702,289
Source: CSO Census of Population
1 Private households. See Appendix 1 for definitions.
  • Nationally, 42% of all dwellings were detached houses in 2016. Nearly two-thirds of dwellings in the Border and West regions were detached houses compared to just 11.5% in Dublin.
  • At county level, more than 70% of dwellings were detached houses in Galway county, Roscommon and Leitrim. In contrast, the proportion of dwellings which were detached was very low in Dublin City (4.9%), South Dublin (10.5%) and Cork city (11.1%).
  • Apartments accounted for 12% of all dwellings in Ireland in 2016 but this varied from a high of 25.4% in Dublin to 4.3% in the Border.
  • Over a third (35.2%) of all dwellings in Dublin city and 23.9% in Galway city were apartments in 2016.
  • The lowest proportions of apartments were 2.5% in Roscommon and 3.6% in Donegal, Tipperary and Offaly.
Table 6.5 Nature of occupancy by county, 20161
    % of row'000
Region and countyOwner occupiedRentedNot statedTotal
 With loan or mortgageWithout loan or mortgage   
Border29.342.525.62.6143,888
Cavan31.739.826.12.526,806
Donegal28.044.424.82.858,305
Leitrim28.044.924.62.512,404
Monaghan31.641.424.82.221,612
Sligo28.341.028.12.624,761
Midland32.637.627.32.6102,958
Laois35.736.025.52.828,997
Longford25.638.133.62.615,092
Offaly33.040.224.42.427,184
Westmeath32.636.628.32.531,685
West29.441.526.42.7164,263
Galway City21.125.648.54.828,827
Galway County33.942.920.82.462,729
Mayo28.246.722.92.148,745
Roscommon29.946.221.92.123,962
Dublin30.729.435.64.4479,159
Dublin City22.827.044.26.0211,591
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown31.138.028.52.478,568
Fingal41.426.328.83.696,607
South Dublin37.130.928.93.092,393
Mid-East39.832.825.02.4231,577
Kildare41.330.725.82.245,363
Louth36.133.427.23.373,348
Meath43.332.921.62.263,861
Wicklow36.335.326.22.249,005
Mid-West30.240.426.72.7173,441
Clare32.641.623.32.543,348
Limerick29.138.829.03.171,022
Tipperary29.841.326.42.459,071
South-East30.839.227.52.5152,669
Carlow30.537.128.93.620,465
Kilkenny32.540.425.21.934,743
Waterford29.737.130.03.143,455
Wexford30.740.826.52.054,006
South-West29.438.928.92.8249,710
Cork City18.132.245.24.549,370
Cork County34.338.624.62.4146,052
Kerry26.245.825.42.654,288
Total31.636.029.33.11,697,665
Source: CSO Census of Population
1 See Appendix 1 for definitions
  • In the Mid-East and in Dublin owner occupied dwellings were more likely to have a mortgage or loan than to be owned without a mortgage or loan.
  • However, in all other regions owner occupied dwellings were more likely to owned outright.
  • At county level, the highest proportions of dwellings which were owner occupied with a loan or mortgage were in Meath (43.3%), Fingal (41.4%) and Kildare (41.3%).
  • Cork City (18.1%) and Galway City (21.1%) had the lowest proportions of dwellings which were owner occupied with a loan or mortgage.
  • Nationally 29.3% of dwellings were rented in 2016, with the highest proportions in the cities of Galway (48.5%), Cork (45.2%) and Dublin (44.2%).
  • The lowest proportion of rented dwellings were in Galway county (20.8%), Meath (21.6%) and Roscommon (21.9%).
Table 6.6 New Dwelling Completions by county, 2012 and 2017
  number %
Region and countyNew Dwelling CompletionsProportion of new dwellings which are single dwellings
 2012201720122017
Border77285776.867.8
Cavan9914797.064.6
Donegal35836381.872.5
Leitrim447390.957.5
Monaghan10214777.563.3
Sligo16912750.369.3
Midland36545878.470.1
Laois12312073.281.7
Longford777553.257.3
Offaly8213591.560.0
Westmeath8312896.477.3
West5921,01591.463.7
Galway 32066289.757.4
Mayo19624193.479.3
Roscommon7611293.467.9
Dublin5845,60226.95.4
Mid-East7402,94560.922.3
Kildare20798558.517.2
Louth19137446.627.0
Meath1931,10880.822.8
Wicklow14947857.028.2
Mid-West56592675.048.6
Clare16026191.354.4
Limerick23747855.734.1
Tipperary16818786.977.5
South-East45392184.857.8
Carlow569992.951.5
Kilkenny10819779.681.2
Waterford 9927873.737.1
Wexford19034791.162.8
South-West8401,72279.245.1
Cork 6091,40276.740.1
Kerry23132085.767.2
Total4,91114,44671.329.6
Source: CSO New Dwelling Completions
  • There were 14,446 new dwellings completed in 2017, compared to 4,911 in 2012.
  • Nearly six out of every ten new dwellings built in 2017 were in Dublin or the Mid-East region, with 38.8% of all new dwellings in Dublin and 20.4% in the Mid-East.
  • The counties with the largest number of new dwellings completed in 2017 were Dublin (5,602), Cork (1,402) and Meath (1,108). Less than 100 new dwellings were completed in 2017 in Leitrim, Longford and Carlow.
  • Three out of every ten new dwellings completed in 2017 were single units, (i.e., separate detached houses). The Midland region had the highest proportion of single houses at 70.1% while Dublin had the lowest at 5.4%.
  • At county level, just over 80% of all new dwellings built in Laois and Kilkenny were single units.
20122017
Border772857
Midland365458
West5921015
Dublin5845602
Mid-East7402945
Mid-West565926
South-East453921
South-West8401722
Table 6.7 Mean sale price of residential dwellings by county, 2012 and 2017
   Euro %
Region and county20122017Average annual % change 2012 to 2017
NewExistingNewExistingNewExisting
Border123,007111,737159,758127,3185.42.6
Cavan120,459106,637138,836133,9002.94.7
Donegal139,874114,274170,122120,8454.01.1
Leitrim89,402101,476130,584107,3477.91.1
Monaghan154,689120,377175,162132,7782.52.0
Sligo124,584112,599180,520139,8697.74.4
Midland105,933110,172192,608146,64212.75.9
Laois105,544103,000192,374160,51112.89.3
Longford89,52287,071147,04698,09410.42.4
Offaly120,084121,955186,927148,2439.34.0
Westmeath111,109117,423219,409155,41614.65.8
West159,426147,101205,607173,6505.23.4
Galway City280,068182,269264,084243,496-1.26.0
Galway County181,596168,894207,062188,9802.72.3
Mayo140,879121,355147,853133,7001.02.0
Roscommon113,54689,093140,358110,0364.34.3
Dublin265,161295,940446,782424,25511.07.5
Dublin City270,365278,802434,365414,5409.98.3
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown340,250408,037649,736585,30613.87.5
Fingal250,974258,475395,704354,8089.56.5
South Dublin212,671225,249386,557339,97312.78.6
Mid-East211,754187,810326,861255,1139.16.3
Kildare236,050187,608335,553261,6797.36.9
Louth182,365132,050253,134182,8356.86.7
Meath180,847179,349301,612237,42510.85.8
Wicklow243,205238,737396,017325,25110.26.4
Mid-West181,771139,977207,886153,8232.71.9
Clare169,116134,874173,213159,2020.53.4
Limerick City123,829165,092203,132143,87510.4-2.7
Limerick County229,034153,395248,063180,2111.63.3
Tipperary173,380120,940160,376134,412-1.52.1
South-East147,429127,126209,484165,1047.35.4
Carlow111,752110,419207,984151,93313.26.6
Kilkenny163,250137,133251,175182,6849.05.9
Waterford City146,938107,689198,575140,8966.25.5
Waterford County152,487139,031240,337180,1789.55.3
Wexford148,246128,445191,643164,1955.35.0
South-West200,123172,747289,785208,8657.73.9
Cork City250,976174,162373,248235,8748.36.3
Cork County201,005179,176290,408218,3047.64.0
Kerry187,168152,777244,549159,5735.50.9
Total193,066205,125345,206259,54812.34.8
Source: CSO Residential Property Price Index
  • The average price for new residential dwellings in 2017 was €345,206. The highest regional price was in Dublin at €446,782 with the lowest in the Border at €159,758.
  • The highest average prices for new dwellings at county level were in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown at €649,736 followed by Dublin City at €434,365 while the lowest prices were in Leitrim at €130,584 and Cavan at €138,836.
  • Average prices for existing dwellings in 2017 were lower than for new dwellings, a reversal of the pattern in 2012.
  • The average price for existing dwellings in 2017 was €259,548 with the highest regional price in Dublin at €424,255 and the lowest in the Border at €127,318.
  • The highest prices for existing dwellings at county level were in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown at €585,306 followed by Dublin city at €414,540 while the lowest prices were in Longford at €98,094 and Leitrim at €107,347.
  • Average prices of new dwellings increased by 12.3% each year between 2012 and 2017 while prices of existing dwellings rose by 4.8% each year.
  • Westmeath had the highest annual percentage change in new dwelling prices at 14.6% between 2012 and 2017 while there were price decreases in Galway and Tipperary of just over 1% each year over the same time period.
  • The highest annual percentage change in existing dwelling prices was in Laois at 9.3% while prices decreased in Limerick City by 2.7% each year.
Table 6.8 Air quality by station, 2017
PM10 (μg/m3)days
ZoneStationAnnual mean1Daily maximum2Values > 503
Zone AWinetavern Street13763
DublinRathmines131035
 Phoenix Park9641
 Blanchardstown15813
 Dun Laoghaire12582
 Ballyfermot12531
 Tallaght12572
     
Zone B Heatherton Park10460
Cork South Link Road17624
     
Zone C Portlaoise10260
Next 15 biggest townsEnnis16909
     
Zone D Castlebar11971
Remainder of stationsClaremorris11521
 Kilkitt8420
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
1 The PM10 annual mean limit value for the protection of human health is 40 μg/m3.
2 The maximum PM10 value recorded at the station during 2017. The daily limit for the protection of human health is no more than 35 days > 50 μg/m3.
3 The number of days where the PM10 value recorded at the station was > 50 μg/m3.
  • Air quality was monitored at 14 stations across the country during 2017. In Ennis the value of PM10 was greater than 50 μg/m3 on nine days during 2017, while Rathmines exceeded this limit on five days.
  • The highest daily maximum was in Rathmines at 103 μg/m3 followed by Castlebar at 97.
  • The highest annual mean value for PM10 during 2017 was the South Link Road in Cork at 17 μg/m3 followed by Ennis at 16, while the lowest annual mean values were Kilkitt at 8 and the Phoenix Park at 9.
Table 6.9 Household waste by county, 2016
    % of row'000
Region and countyMixed residual collectionKerbside recyclablesBring banks & civic amenitiesOtherTonnes
Border57.717.121.14.178.1
Cavan54.813.725.95.718.0
Donegal64.017.217.31.422.0
Leitrim52.117.818.012.17.4
Monaghan65.018.215.81.116.0
Sligo46.719.528.35.514.8
Midland55.618.816.29.468.3
Laois48.525.016.310.216.9
Longford60.821.38.79.210.9
Offaly56.820.515.96.821.4
Westmeath57.69.820.911.719.1
West52.526.113.67.7128.7
Galway City35.540.311.812.424.3
Galway County58.224.58.68.751.7
Mayo56.220.320.63.038.6
Roscommon51.123.616.39.014.0
Dublin44.932.915.07.1409.1
Dublin City50.332.110.37.3155.3
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown44.335.116.04.563.0
Fingal35.139.114.910.999.7
South Dublin47.126.122.24.790.9
Mid-East54.824.513.96.8222.9
Kildare55.630.111.42.971.8
Louth52.817.321.38.651.4
Meath53.324.410.212.059.9
Wicklow58.023.814.43.839.7
Mid-West49.229.215.06.7135.7
Clare45.127.922.54.530.2
Limerick47.032.613.07.353.8
Tipperary53.826.312.57.351.7
South-East52.024.115.08.9134.2
Carlow45.916.814.123.124.8
Kilkenny52.020.722.25.223.3
Waterford53.931.611.92.638.6
Wexford53.623.414.48.547.6
South-West44.725.922.07.5197.0
Cork City52.032.67.18.353.2
Cork County43.923.326.26.6112.8
Kerry34.823.532.59.231.0
Total49.627.116.17.31,373.9
Source: Environmental Protection Authority
  • The Border region had the highest proportion of household waste collected as mixed residual waste, (i.e., kerbside black bin collection) in 2016 at 57.7%, while the lowest proportion was in the South-West at 44.7%.
  • The counties with the highest proportion of household waste collected in black bins were Monaghan (65%), Donegal (64%) and Longford (60.8%).
  • Kerry (34.8%), Fingal (35.1%) and Galway City (35.5%) had the lowest proportion of household waste collected in black bins.
  • There was a large variation across Ireland in the proportion of household waste collected in kerbside recyclables (i.e., green bin, brown bin and glass) from a high of 40.3% in Galway City to just 9.8% in Westmeath.
  • There was also a wide range in the proportion of household waste brought to bring banks and civic amenities in 2016, varying from 32.5% in Kerry to 7.1% in Cork City.
Table 6.10 Vehicle registrations by taxation class and licensing authority by region, 2016
 rate per 1,000 persons aged 17 and overnumber
RegionPrivate carsGoods vehiclesTractorsMotor cyclesOthersTotalTotal
Border53713038748759224,855
Midland56111141940763164,816
West56911539645774268,653
Dublin4966311131603637,297
Mid-East58693151232738372,608
Mid-West599103341040786283,770
South-East616112361341818260,524
South-West595100271242777412,435
Total558942210387232,624,958
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
  • There were 723 vehicle registrations per 1,000 persons aged 17 and over in 2016.
  • The highest rate of vehicle registrations was in the South-East at 818, while the lowest was in Dublin at 603.
Table 6.11 Private car registrations by licensing authority by county, 2011 and 2016
     
Region and countyPrivate carsNumber of private cars per 1,000 persons aged 17 and over
 2011201620112016
Border152,447158,997519537
Cavan27,52830,199510536
Donegal61,36962,628513524
Leitrim13,14913,740545566
Monaghan23,01324,590508538
Sligo27,38827,840541551
Midland110,945121,334533561
Laois29,81332,740509532
Longford15,24916,467528545
Offaly29,50132,471522560
Westmeath36,38239,656566597
West180,211197,489528569
Galway 99,407109,271516553
Mayo53,20956,541533564
Roscommon27,59531,677566645
Dublin492,395524,733492496
Mid-East267,982295,887559586
Kildare87,69398,132572603
Louth44,97749,879494522
Meath74,71582,000562583
Wicklow60,59765,876594620
Mid-West205,271216,377576599
Clare51,57554,715586609
Limerick82,33986,462556575
Tipperary71,35775,200594622
South-East180,084196,137586616
Carlow25,58627,280622637
Kilkenny39,91842,559557570
Waterford 50,42654,738584619
Wexford64,15471,560592635
South-West298,475316,023586595
Cork234,573247,697591596
Kerry63,90268,326569594
Total1,887,8102,026,977540558
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
  • There were 558 private cars per 1,000 persons aged 17 and over in Ireland in 2016, an increase of 18 per 1,000 since 2011.
  • The South-East region (616) had the highest rate of private car registrations per 1,000 people aged 17 and over, while the Dublin region (496) had the lowest.
  • At county level, the highest rates of private car registrations were in Roscommon (645), Carlow (637) and Wexford (635). The counties with the fewest cars per 1,000 people aged 17 and over were Dublin (496), Louth (522) and Donegal (524).
  • The private car registration rate increased in all counties between 2011 and 2016.

Go to next section Justice