Kerry County Council had 163 vacant properties in its ownership at the end of the first quarter of this year.
That represents a vacancy rate of 3.75% out of its total stock of over 4,300 (4352).
The figures were presented at the monthly meeting of Kerry County Council following a request from Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Cahill.
Cllr Cahill asked that the council give a detailed report pertaining to all vacant housing stock in its ownership and include the number vacant for more than two years along with their location.
He proposed any sale proceeds be ringfenced for the completion of outstanding repairs to existing tenancies.
In response the council says the precise number of vacant stock changes daily, but say the figures quoted are based on a snapshot taken on the end of quarter one; the council says this vacancy rate continues to show significant improvement.
These figures show at the time there were 45 properties vacant for more than two years.
23 of these were in the Listowel MD, eight were in the Tralee MD, while seven of the properties were in the Kenmare MD.
There were four properties vacant for more than two years in the Killarney MD and three more in the Castleisland Corca Dhuibhne MD.
Kerry County Council says it would cost over €6 million to bring all 163 vacant properties in its ownership up to human habitation.
The council says it doesn’t intend on refurbishing all these properties; its housing department examined all of the vacant properties and the initial assessment shows 19 have been designated for disposal.
