National Commercial Vacancy Rate Falls to 14.5% in First Year-on-Year Decline
30,611 commercial units recorded as vacant by GeoDirectory in June 2026
GeoDirectory Commercial Vacancy Rates Report Q2 2026
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30,611 commercial units recorded as vacant by GeoDirectory in Q2 2026
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National commercial vacancy rate dropped by 0.1 percentage points (pp) year-on-year to 14.5% marking the first YoY rate reduction since reporting began in 2013
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Commercial vacancy rates increased in 13 out of 26 counties in the State
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Donegal recorded the highest vacancy rate at 20.7%, followed by Sligo (20.2%) and Galway (18.6%)
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Meath maintained the county with the lowest vacancy at 9.9%, followed by Wexford (11.2%) and Westmeath (12%)
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Shannon, Co. Clare registered the highest vacancy rate among sampled towns at 34.9%, while Carrigaline, Co. Cork posted the lowest at 5.1%
26 August 2026
The national commercial vacancy rate dropped marginally by 0.1 percentage points (pp) year-on-year to 14.5% in Quarter 2 2026. This is the first time the commercial vacancy rate has experienced an annual decline since reporting began in 2013, according to the latest GeoDirectory Commercial Vacancy Rates Report.
The analysis, prepared by EY, revealed that a total of 30,611 commercial properties were classified as vacant across the country in Q2 2026. Despite the overall national drop, localised variance persists, with vacancy rates increasing in 13 of the 26 counties surveyed, falling in 12, and remaining unchanged in one county, Cavan.
The highest commercial vacancy rates continue to be concentrated in the West and North-West of the country. Donegal recorded the highest vacancy rate in the State at 20.7% (up 0.4 pp YoY), meaning more than one in five commercial properties in the county lie vacant. Sligo (20.2%), Galway (18.6%), Leitrim and Limerick (both 18.1%) made up the remainder of the top five highest county vacancy rates, with all five Connacht counties featuring in the top seven nationwide.
At the other end of the spectrum, Meath recorded the lowest commercial vacancy rate in the country at 9.9%, making it the only county under the 10% mark. Wexford (11.2%), Westmeath (12.0%), Kerry (12.3%), and Cavan (12.7%) rounded out the counties with the lowest rates. Thirteen counties had a vacancy rate below the national vacancy rate of 14.5%.
In Dublin, the commercial vacancy rate stood at 13.3% in Q2 2026, a 0.6 pp reduction compared to Q2 2025, and below the national average of 14.5%.
Within the capital's postal districts, Dublin 8 recorded the highest vacancy rate at 17.6%, followed by Dublin 9 (16.8%) and Dublin 3 (16.5%). Dublin 2 registered the most dramatic improvement in the city, with vacancy rates dropping 4.3 pp year-on-year to 14.1%. Dublin 15 posted the lowest vacancy rate in the capital at 6.7%, followed by Dublin 16 (8.3%) and Dublin 20 (8.8%). Overall, 17 of the 22 Dublin postal districts recorded vacancy rates equal to or below the national average.
Of the 80 towns and urban areas analysed nationwide, Shannon, Co. Clare registered the highest commercial vacancy rate at 34.9% (up 4.1 pp YoY), moving up from second place in Q2 2025. Ballybofey, Co. Donegal recorded the second-highest rate at 34.5%, followed by Boyle, Co. Roscommon at 30.1%.
Carrigaline, Co. Cork (5.1%) and Greystones, Co. Wicklow (7.3%) recorded the lowest commercial vacancy rates among the sampled towns despite vacancy rates remaining unchanged in Carrigaline and increasing in Greystones by 1.8 pp.
Using NACE classification codes to track economic activity, the report indicates that of the 179,998 occupied units nationally, 151,993 had an assigned NACE code in Q2 2026, an annual drop of 1,108 units.
With the exception of Health and Education, all sectors witnessed a decline in the number of commercial units. The Services sector continues to hold the dominant share of occupied commercial space nationwide at 49.5% (75,305 units), despite experiencing the largest overall volume drop (-457 units YoY). Retail and Wholesale represent the second-largest grouping at 21.7% (33,013 units), down 434 units YoY, while Health accounts for 9.6% (14,652 units).
Within the Services sector, Accommodation and Food Services had the highest number of commercial units at 22,042, down 439 units compared to Q2 2025. Coastal and tourism-heavy counties in the West recorded the highest reliance on this sector, led by Kerry (23.7%), Clare (20.3%), and Donegal (18.9%). Monaghan recorded the lowest concentration at 8.2%.
Commenting on the findings of the latest GeoDirectory Commercial Buildings Report, Dara Keogh, CEO of GeoDirectory, said, “The national commercial vacancy rate has edged down slightly to 14.5%, marking our first year-on-year drop since GeoDirectory began reporting on this data in 2013, the broader picture remains one of significant local variance. With over 30,611 commercial units lying vacant across the country and 13 counties still seeing vacancy increases, commercial property owners and local high streets need to continue to adapt to shifting consumer habits.”
Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY Ireland said, “While the decline in the national commercial vacancy rates is modest, it is significant as it marks a break from a long period of steadily rising commercial vacancies since 2013. The data highlights a growing divide between areas benefiting from population growth, employment and investment, particularly in the East, and those that continue to face challenges sustaining commercial activity, especially in the West and Northwest. This underlines the need for sustained investment and policy measures to support town centre vitality and long-term economic growth.”
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