The number of households renting their accommodation increased by 47 per cent since 2006, according to the latest results released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The publication, 'Profile 4 The Roof over our Heads – Housing in Ireland', examines the characteristics of over 1.6 million permanent dwellings occupied on April 10th 2011, along with 289,451 dwellings which were identified as being vacant at the time of the census.

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Deirdre Cullen, Senior Statistician at the CSO, said: "This report provides an in-depth picture of housing in Ireland at the time of the last census. It presents detailed results on housing characteristics such as heating, sewerage and water along with an analysis of renting in Ireland, the housing situation among non-Irish nationals and a study of vacant dwellings across the country.

"Housing has played an important role in the economic fortunes of Ireland in recent years and this report provides important new information on this critical aspect of Irish life."

(CD/GK)