Slight improvement in level of vacant commercial units in Offaly

The problem of vacant commercial units in Offaly eased slightly between the end of 2024 and the end of last year, according to a recent report.

The GeoDirectory Commercial Buildings Report, prepared by EY, assesses commercial vacancy levels in towns and cities across Ireland.

Its latest report showed that the commercial vacancy rate in Offaly stood at 15.3% in December 2025.

While this was higher than the national commercial vacancy rate, of 14.6%, it represented an improvement on the 15.7% vacancy rate in Offaly at the end of 2024.

Edenderry remained the town in Offaly with most commercial vacancies, but its vacancy rate improved from 26.6% at the end of 2024 to just under a quarter of commercial units (24.5%) a year later.

Nationally, Edenderry was the town with the eighth-highest level of commercial vacancies, behind Shannon, Ballybofey, Boyle, Sligo, Letterkenny, Edgeworthstown, and Newcastle West in Limerick.

In Tullamore, the vacancy rate was unchanged year-on-year, at 18.9%, while in Birr it improved from 15.6% in 2024 to 14.4% at the end of last year.

The national commercial vacancy rate in Ireland increased to 14.6% in December of last year, with this translating to 30,687 vacant commercial units across the country.

The 14.6% vacancy rate nationally is the highest rate since GeoDirectory began tracking commercial vacancy data in 2013.

Sligo recorded the highest commercial vacancy rate in the State at 20.8%, followed closely by Donegal (20.6%) and Galway (18.7%).

At the other end of the spectrum, Meath remained the county with the lowest commercial vacancy rate in the country, at 10.0%, followed by Wexford (10.9%) and Westmeath (11.9%).

Commenting on the findings of the GeoDirectory Commercial Buildings Report, its CEO Dara Keogh said, "The continued upward trajectory of commercial vacancy rates, which remains at an all-time high of 14.6%, is an indicator of several economic factors which have been developing for a number of years.

"This includes the increased penetration of online shopping and commerce, along with remote working trends," he stated.

"The changing needs of businesses and consumers, and the subsequent impact on commercial property, should be closely considered to ensure the best utilisation of these spaces in the future."

Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY, added, "While there are structural challenges in some regions, it is encouraging that nine of the fifteen towns with the highest vacancy levels recorded year-on-year improvements.

"This indicates that local efforts to revitalise town centres, along with natural commercial turnover, can have a positive impact."