The number of vacant social homes in the West Clare area would cater for just 5 percent of households waiting to be allocated a premises.
The local authority is currently dealing with 682 social housing applications in the region, with just 40 residences in the Council’s stock lying empty.
Of the social housing applications currently with the West Clare municipal district, Ennistymon and Lahinch is the most popular first area of choice, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 applications.
Kilrush accounts for nearly 20 percent, with Miltown Malbay and Corofin/Ruan the next most popular areas.
Around three quarters of applications – or more than 500 households – are looking for a two bed property.
Following a question from Independent Councillor Ian Lynch, the local authority told this month’s meeting of West Clare Councillors it currently has 899 properties in the district.
859 of these are occupied with 40 vacant, though of the vacant properties, 13 of them are considered derelict.
Only 10 of the vacant properties are two beds which are in high demand in the area.
65 new social units are planned in the district, with 27 in Miltown Malbay set to be completed by June, and a further 30 in Ennistymon to be finished by the end of 2023.
The Council says accommodating large families in the area ‘remains challenging’ and that a business case is now required for bigger housing types in the West.
