House prices rose 4.8% in first half of year

THE average price of a new house has increased by €20,000 in Dublin and €14,000 in the rest of the country since January, the latest figures reveal.

The Permanent TSB/ESRI housing price index published yesterday shows the cost of new houses in Dublin rose by €109 each day in the first six months of 2004 and €77 per day in the rest of Ireland.

The average price paid for a house in June 2004 was €320,498 in Dublin and €215,727 outside the capital.