Empty promises: can the government finally get to grips with the problem of vacant homes?

In an upmarket Dublin suburb, a four-bed house bought by an overseas investor has been unoccupied since 2015; in the city centre, hundreds of luxury apartments owned by a US investment fund lie empty. A more radical approach to the problem is needed, experts say

Nationwide, there is also a high number of empty homes, many of which are now derelict due to lack of use. The latest data published in the GeoView Residential Buildings report at the end of 2020 said there were 92,251 vacant dwellings, 4.6 per cent of the total stock. Picture: Getty

The sun was shining last Monday afternoon in the leafy north Dublin village of Malahide. In one of its popular housing estates, people were walking their dogs and a groundskeeper was belting out a ballad as he tended the area.

Homes in this development are in high demand. A stroll around the grounds shows why. The area is teeming with amenities, green space and breathtaking views of the coast.

Local estate agents have been known ...