The total number of occupied commercial premises in Ireland declined from 195,545 in the first quarter of 2014 to 194,642 by the end of the year, according to new figures.

Commercial vacancy rates increased by 0.4 per cent over the year to 12.8 per cent, research from GeoDirectory shows.

The data show 28,465 of the 223,107 commercial addresses recorded in the Republic of Ireland in 2014 were vacant. Kerry recorded the lowest vacancy rate of any county in the fourth quarter at 9.1 per cent. Sligo recorded the highest at 16.5 per cent.

In overall terms, 23.7 per cent of vacant address points were located in Dublin and 10.5 per cent in Cork.

All four provinces recorded a rise in their overall vacancy rate last year. The biggest increase was in Connacht with a 0.8 per cent rise to 14.7 per cent. Ulster recorded a 0.5 per cent rise in vacancy rates to 12.5 per cent while Munster rose 0.4 per cent to 12.1 per cent and Leinster was up 0.2 per cent at 12.6 per cent.

According to figures for the fourth quarter, there were 223,107 commercial properties in Ireland, 28,465 of which were vacant. The highest vacancy rate recorded was in Sligo with 16.5 per cent.

At 49,161 or 22 per cent Dublin had the largest number of unique commercial address points in the fourth quarter, followed by Cork with 25,882 or 11.6 per cent.