Census shows 4% increase in Offaly's housing stock

The number of homes in Offaly increased by 4%, to 31,851, in the six-year period leading up to last year's Census, it has emerged.

Rents being paid by tenants in Offaly also rose dramatically - by 44% - in the years between 2016 and 2022.

The figures were included in the Census results on housing, which were published for the first time today (Thursday).

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) said the Census revealed Offaly's housing stock grew from from 30,740 to 31,851 between April 2016 and April 2022.

The number of vacant homes in Offaly decreased by 6%, from 2,640 to 2,491, and the number of holiday homes in the county fell by 13%, from 244 to 213.

The increase in the total number of homes, and decrease in vacancy levels, in Offaly is an indicator of the increasing pressure on housing in Ireland, though nationally the housing stock grew at a faster rate - more than 5% - and the number of vacant dwellings fell more steeply (by 11%).

Of the 31,851 homes in Offaly at the time of the Census, some 64% (20,540) were owner-occupied. This was up from 19,893 in April 2016.

Homes in Offaly which were rented from private landlords showed a 1% increase, from 3,721 to 3,758, but the growth in the amount of rent paid by tenants was substantial.

The average weekly rent paid to a private landlord in Offaly in April 2022 was €182, which represented a 44% increase on 2016.

This was a faster rate of increase than the 37% average rise in rents paid nationally.

The areas with the highest weekly rent were all in Dublin, with rents in Dún Laoighaire Rathdown averaging at over €440 per week.

The CSO said some homes classed as vacant in the Census may only be vacant for a short period.

However, it noted that 799 homes in Offaly were vacant both in April 2016 and April 2022, and that this "could be an indication of a longer-term vacancy status".