Number of empty houses in ghost estates still falling

The number of vacant but completed housing units in Ireland’s ghost estates has dropped by 72 per cent since 2010 from 23,250 to 6,350, according to the latest figures published today.

There has also been a 55.8 per cent overall reduction in unfinished developments in the last three years, from 2,846 to 1,258.

Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan has said she now hopes the issue - which has been a painful reminder of Ireland’s failed property bubble - can be as resolved “as we can reasonably be expected to achieve” by next year.

She said the latest report “points to continued significant progress in bringing to a conclusion this most distressing remnant and symbol of the doomed tiger years”.

At least 40 unnamed estates have been deemed suitable only for site clearance - to be returned to green field status.

Key figures released today also report that about 553 developments have been “effectively resolved” in the last 12 months, with the allocation of €4.5 million in funds to tackle “urgent public safety works” and a further €30 million in development bonds secured for improvements.