More than 300,000 homes - more than double the official estimate - are lying empty around the country, according to research.
The figures come from the National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis, which says the scale of vacant property could keep house prices low for years to come.
The NIRSA, a group of academics based in NUI Maynooth, have used three sets of official figures to come up with the number. They have concluded that there are 302,625 vacant properties, which include those that are vacant for sale and rent. The number does not include holiday homes.
Meanwhile, another report out today has found that houses are now more affordable than at any time in the last 25 years.
This is because of historic low interest rates, falling prices and weak consumer confidence.
According to the EBS Building Society and DKM, a working couple are spending 13.4% of their income on a mortgage today, compared with 26% in 2006.
