Census 2012: Over 2,000 vacant houses in West Clare parishes

According to the Census 2011, there are more than 2,000 vacant houses in the West Clare parishes of Kilkee (including the Kilfearagh electoral division), Kilrush town and Doonbeg.
Kilkee tops the vacant house list with 1,189 empty dwellings in the town. This figure represents a 71% vacancy rate. The total housing stock in Kilkee is 1,674. The housing figure is an aggregate of all vacant houses, flats and holiday homes in the town. The figures however exclude houses where residents were temporarily absent on census night last year.
Kilfearagh, which is also in the Kilkee parish has a total of 213 empty dwellings from a total housing stock of 376. This means that the vacant housing rate in Kilfearagh is 56.6%.
Meanwhile, there are 462 vacant houses in the Kilrush town from a stock of 1,459, while Doonbeg village has 199 vacant houses from a total of 1,144.
Commenting on the Kilkee figures, Kilkee Chamber secretary, John Williams, who is in his last week in the position, feels that the glut of houses in Kilkee represents a revenue opportunity for the town and for Clare County Council. He predicted an influx of almost €500,000 into the coffers of Clare County Council as a direct result of the extensive holiday home stock in Kilkee.
“There’s 1,674 by €100 coming in and the there’s €300 from all holiday homes inclusive of the €100 household charge. That adds up to nearly €500,000 which is coming into Clare County Council for use in Kilkee. That could have a very positive effect,” John Williams commented.
He maintains that if the tourist trade improves in West Clare, Kilkee will be primed to take advantage.
“A house with five or six beds in it is part of the tourist stock. They’re there to be filled so when there is an upturn in tourism Kilkee won’t be short of accommodation. We’re delighted there is so much accommodation in Kilkee,” he added.
The Kilkee town population has also dropped very significantly with 288 less people now living in the resort town year round compared to five years ago. Just 1,037 people currently live there. This is a 21.7% drop from the 2006 population figures of 1,325.
The Kilrush urban population has dropped slightly to 2,539. This is a drop of 118 people from the 2006 population of 2,657.
However, the Kilrush rural population has increased by 127 people to 748. This is a 20.5% increase on the 2006 census return of 621 people.
Kildysart also experienced a fairly significant population increase of 9.4% in the last five years. The current population is 992 which is up 79 people from 2006.
Interesting the population of Kilmihil village has increased by 47 people to 626 since 2006. This is despite high emigration figures from the village and parish.