A delay in garda clearance has left around 10% of Dublin City Council homes vacant, according to a local councillor.

The process of carrying out police checks on new tenants means some 10% of the council's housing stock is lying unoccupied.

The Dublin vacancy rate is more than double the national average of less than 5%.

Labour councillor Sean Kenny has insisted the main reason for a large number of these vacancies is the rate at which tenants undergo gardai checks.

However, the council has recognised there is a strong proportion of these homes earmarked for demolition, under refurbishment programmes.

Councillor Kenny has stressed that many of those at the top of the waiting list, for social housing, are facing further delays due to clearance checks undertaken by local police.

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He said: "Some people are waiting on the housing list for 10 years or more.

"The system of garda checks was brought in for very sensible reasons, to combat drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour, but it is very frustrating for decent people who know houses are vacant for quite a long time."

The council has informed Mr Kenny that police staff assigned to the vetting process could be operating outside office hours, making it difficult for council officials to liaise with them on findings.

But Mr Kennny has rebuked these claims - while recognising the stretch on police resource - he insisted an officer at management level should be overseeing output.

"I am calling on the Government, Justice Minister, and Garda Commissioner to give a higher priority to this. It is appalling with the numbers of people on housing lists, thousands of local authority homes are lying empty," said the councillor.

Dublin City Council has said it will monitor the time lapse in filling empty units.

The council said it recognises garda checks may be an aspect of the problem, but insisted delays are often caused by the need for repairs, the rate of refusals, and the policy of giving families a period of grace to move possessions following the death of a tenant.

Around 3,108 Dublin social housing units are currently vacant.

The majority of these units, located in places like Ballymun, St Michael's Estate and O'Devaney Gardens, are awaiting demolition, according to the council.

The total housing stock awaiting demolition represents 7% of the available units.

(PR/NS)