Galway Bay fm newsroom - 81 properties were returned to use in 2016 for social housing in the city.
However, only 6 of these properties were deemed to be long term voids, which are properties vacant for longer than 6 months.
The Department of Housing funds the refurbishment of vacant social housing properties that need significant work.
Sinn Feín claims that refurbishing units which are only vacant for less than 6 months is inflating the department's social housing output figures.
