A Leitrim Councillor has warned that rising construction prices will prevent many people from building and renovating properties.

Councillor Padraig Fallon made the comments while reacting to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report which stated that Leitrim has the highest residential vacancy rate in the Country.

The Sinn Fein Councillor says ever increasing construction costs are deterring many people from building or renovating at present while securing finance is also an issue for many.

Cllr Fallon says rising costs coupled with planning laws will continue to result in less new builds or renovations: