Wexford commercial vacancy rate rises to 11.2% as New Ross records highest rate at 23%

Wexford’s commercial vacancy rate stood at 11.2% in June 2026, according to the latest GeoDirectory Commercial Vacancy Rates Report, released today.

The county’s rate remains below the national average of 14.5%, but has increased by 0.6 percentage points compared with June 2025.

The figures show significant differences across Wexford’s urban areas. New Ross recorded the highest commercial vacancy rate among the towns surveyed, at 23%, while Gorey had the lowest, at 10.5%.

Nationally, the commercial vacancy rate fell marginally by 0.1 percentage points year-on-year to 14.5% in the second quarter of 2026. It is the first annual decline recorded since GeoDirectory began reporting commercial vacancy data in 2013.

A total of 30,611 commercial properties were classified as vacant across the State during the quarter.

Donegal recorded the highest county vacancy rate at 20.7%, meaning more than one in five commercial properties in the county were vacant. Sligo followed at 20.2%, with Galway at 18.6%. Leitrim and Limerick both recorded rates of 18.1%.

At the other end of the scale, Meath had the lowest commercial vacancy rate nationally, at 9.9%. Wexford was second-lowest at 11.2%, followed by Westmeath at 12%, Kerry at 12.3% and Cavan at 12.7%. In total, 13 counties recorded vacancy rates below the national average.

GeoDirectory CEO Dara Keogh said the slight national decline marked an important change after a prolonged period of rising commercial vacancies.

He said that, despite the reduction, more than 30,600 commercial units remained vacant and 13 counties continued to see vacancy increases. He said commercial property owners and local high streets would need to continue adapting to changing consumer habits.

The latest figures suggest that while Wexford continues to perform better than many parts of the country in terms of commercial vacancy, the year-on-year increase highlights continuing challenges for some of its towns, particularly New Ross

Cathaoirleach of the New Ross District John Fleming said the council are aware of the figures and will do everything possible to attract businesses to the area and reduce the vacancy rate going forward